KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM

Just what is knowledge and what is wisdom?

Knowledge is a clear perception or understanding of a truth or fact.

Wisdom is the quality of being wise, of discernment; good judgment.

It is obvious, then, that wisdom is beyond knowledge – it is knowledge that is tempered by experience and good sense.

Many people have knowledge, but very little wisdom.

Wisdom is essentially knowing how to use knowledge correctly, and is knowledge + experience in how to apply that knowledge.

Knowledge by itself is an incomplete thing – knowledge that has been tried and tested; however, is an advanced thing. We could even say that wisdom is knowledge applied in a discerning manner.

There are two kinds of wisdom: man’s wisdom and God’s wisdom. See I Corinthians 1:18 through 21. Verse 21 of this passage says: “For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God.” (Translated – simply means – the world’s wisdom cannot know God, cannot know God’s wisdom.)

Man’s wisdom and God’s wisdom each has a different end and goal. Man’s wisdom tries to lead into man’s good alone – God’s wisdom definitely leads to our understanding of God’s ways and our obedience to them.

The ways of God (and the wisdom of God) are opposite to the ways of selfishness. God’s ways consider the needs of others – and are also pleasing to God.
Some reminders about wisdom, knowledge and understanding are to be found in the Scriptures.
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding” and then verse 6, also: “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 13:15 “Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.”

Now, no one will try to deny that living a life of self alone may bring temporary satisfaction and temporary good to that person – that would seem to be obvious. But what about the long term of life? Can such a lifestyle over a long term bring permanent peace?

We must, as citizens of earth and citizens of the world, people of God’s creation, mind the wisdom of God, which is SO much better than the wisdom of man. The wisdom of man serves each creature individually – but the wisdom of God serves the person + serves God the Creator + ALL the people of the world who are involved in the situation we are talking about.

Consider, if you will, the following verses of Scripture – which are not only truth, but are the wisdom of God:

Ezekiel 18:4 “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

Then, Ezekiel 33:11 “Say unto them, as I live saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil way, for why will ye die, o house of Israel?”

Oh, really? Look at Romans 3:9-10 “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin. As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one.

So what is the remedy for the unrighteousness of man, for your unrighteousness, my Friend? What can you do, to follow the wisdom of God, and abandon your own wisdom? Your own wisdom leads to death (eventually separation from God), way beyond physical death.

Believe what God says about you – and this is true of all flesh:

1.Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

2.Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin in death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

3.Romans 5:8 “Gut God commendeth (Showed) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

4.Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus (Jesus as Lord), and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. – For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

This is God’s remedy for sin, and of course, the very wisdom of God.

So, Dear Friend, which will it be for you? – YOUR wisdom or God’s?