Blog Series: The Faith-filled Life of the Righteous

Anecdote No. 3: Let Intellect Learn (and Learn From) Wisdom

We are surrounded by intelligent people: people who have years of education and have ultimately become (or are becoming) experts on some issue, topic, or skill; people who may not have as much education as others but, through hard work and motivation, earn good, honest money (which requires a good amount of intelligence) and spend it well; people who absorb what they can from the world around them and are able to engage in intellectual banter; people who just seem to know a lot about everything. Some of my closest friends are the most intelligent people I know personally. Intelligence is a value of our culture today and rightly so - we need to develop, and ourselves become, people who desire to learn and gain accurate knowledge, reasoning, and facts about the world and whatever else interests us. There's nothing wrong with being smart and striving to become more intelligent. Personally, I'd rather be smart (and perceived as so) than stupid. I think we all would.

But,

It is quite possible to be smart and yet a fool; one can be intelligent but lack wisdom. If the opposite of intelligence is stupidity, the opposite of wisdom is foolishness. Although some people may be naturally 'smart' (I envied those whom I felt fell into this category during high school and university), people are not born wise. True wisdom comes from God:

"[In Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:3

Wisdom, according to the dictionary's definition, is knowledge of and insight to what is true and right coupled with acting upon such knowledge. Intelligence, on the other hand, is merely the capacity or ability for understanding. While intelligence capitalizes on one's ability to learn and understand, wisdom focuses on the true and right knowledge discerned and how that impacts how one chooses to act.

Psalm 111:10 declares that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding."

God's righteous people believe that wisdom begins with a deep and holy reverence for God. The notion of fear in this verse derives from the Hebrew word 'yir'ah' which, in this context, refers not to fear as in terror but rather to reverent fear, a deep respect for another. In other words, wisdom starts with recognizing who God is and allowing that conviction to guide one's thoughts and ways. Living by faith daily acknowledges God's supremacy in all and over all things and to put it simply, desires and seeks to put God first. When you revere someone, you naturally think of that person before yourself - how you can please that person and regard that person in the highest way possible. You listen intently to someone you deeply respect and are careful to consider your actions before doing them. What more when it is God whom we ought to revere?

I am always intrigued by the story of King Solomon, the richest and wealthiest man who has ever lived (cf. 2 Chronicles 1:12b). When Solomon became king after David, God appeared to him one night and told him to ask for whatever he wanted God to give him. Surprisingly enough, Solomon asked for wisdom:

"Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to givern this great people of yours?" 2 Chronicles 1:10

Solomon recognized that God made him king and that only God knew how to rightly govern and lead his people. So, in humility, he asked for God's wisdom to fulfill the task he had been given. God granted his request AND more (he gave him wisdom, wealth, riches, and honor too). What a blessing! Solomon could have asked for wealth or riches or long life, which I'm sure he desired. But he asks for what he knows he needs and what he knows is infinitely more valuable than possessions and status combined: wisdom. Solomon was no fool.

We all need wisdom to live a life of faith daily, to be able to discern what is right and true, to make good, God-honoring, God-revering choices and to act in accordance with God's Word. James exhorts us to "ask God [for wisdom if you lack it for he] gives generously to all without finding fault" (James 1:5). Wisdom comes from God and he gives it freely to those who ask. The question is: Do we ask? Or do we presume to have it already? Have we realized the need for wisdom in order to live a life of faith?

Friend, intelligence is valuable but so easily boasted of. Wisdom, on the otherhand, is indispensible and a virtue that only God can give. God's righteous ones recognize the difference between knowledge and wisdom and, by faith, seek God's wisdom primarily by studying His Word and living by it. Anything less is folly.

"Oh the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." Romans 11:33-36