Wisdom

A friend once told me that wisdom is experience, which I think is a good simple example but one that definitely needs to be expanded on.  What is wisdom,  why should you want wisdom, and how do you obtain wisdom?  Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, these three questions all intertwine.

Wisdom, according to the dictionary is, "The quality of having experience (as mentioned before), knowledge, and good judgement."   That is more or less the definition also given in the Bible.  However, there still is a difference between what the world calls wisdom, and God calls wisdom.  Several times throughout the Bible the differences between the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of God are shown. In 1 Corinthians 1:20 Paul writes, "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"  In Chapter 3 of the same book in verse 19 Paul writes, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God."  So we can see what the wisdom of this world is, foolishness, but what is the wisdom of God like?  1 Corinthians 2:6-8 says, "Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory..."  God's wisdom is something we cannot understand, it is mysterious and unknown.  Romans 11:53 reiterates this giving more insight, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!"  What are the limits to God's wisdom?  There are no limits; they are unfathomable!  Solomon was the wisest man ever to live but did he have limits? Yes.  God is not like man; His wisdom has NO boundries. In Ephesians 9:10 it mentions the "...manifold wisdom of God..."  Manifold, numerous, how great is the wisdom of our God!

So now that you understand what wisdom is, why do you want wisdom?  Proverbs 1:7 says- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction." It is obvious from this verse that as Christians we are called to pursue knowledge.  If we do not we are fools, and nobody wants to be a fool.  In Chapter 13 of Proverbs it talks about how blessed a man is who finds wisdom and how wisdom is better then precious jewels and nothing compares with it.  
 How does one obtain wisdom? The short answer is in Proverbs 2:6 where the Bible says that the Lord gives wisdom.  James 1:5 says, "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."  In John it says "ask and you shall receive."

Now you know what wisdom is, Godly wisdom, you know why you should want wisdom, so we aren't fools, and now you know how to obtain wisdom, through God.  Broken down it all looks so simple but as you and I know the Christian's walk isn't simple.  It is all very well for you to read this (or for me to write this) but it is the action that really counts.  Wisdom isn't easy, I know, but through God, all things are possible.  

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.