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Knowledge VS Wisdom

Proverbs 1-3

Well guys, we’ve made it to Proverbs!  It is fitting that Psalms came before Proverbs in that Psalms deals with praise of God which is where everything starts.  It is only after we respond to God’s call to be in right relationship with Him that we have enough wisdom to follow His guidance.  Proverbs is exactly that; God’s guidance for life.  Of course, the entire Bible is God’s guidance but Proverbs gets very specific.  This book is framed as a challenge to a young man to be a wise young man; but of course, this applies to men and women, young and old alike.  It is true that you are never too old to learn and this is particularly true when we speak of biblical wisdom.

But what is wisdom?  Wisdom and knowledge are related but they are still very different things.  To know or understand something is one thing; to use that information correctly is another.  Wisdom is the correct use of knowledge.  I’ve heard people say that they “believe in God”.  In my younger, more secular, meaning more foolish, days I once said such foolishness.  What does it mean when someone says they believe in God?  Does it mean they believe God exists?  That is what I meant when I said it; as if knowing God exists is enough to gain entrance into His heaven.  It isn’t.  Knowledge is not wisdom.  Satan and his minions know that God exists.  They will not be entering heaven.

I know that if I wish to be healthy I need to exercise and eat right; but I don’t.  I have knowledge but not wisdom.  We all know that we should not spend more than we earn; those of us who do have knowledge but not wisdom.  Doing the wrong thing is foolishness.  Knowing the right thing to do and still doing the wrong thing is also foolishness.  It is only when we know the right thing to do and do it that we have wisdom.

There are a lot of very smart people out there with a great deal of knowledge that are fools; they reject God.  Listen to our first Proverb:

Proverbs 1:7

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Have you ever tried to tell one of these “smart” people about Jesus?  They often despise and mock you; they are fools.  They despise wisdom.  You’ve heard me say before that every book of the Bible points us to Christ.  This holds true for Proverbs.  You can know that Christ lived.  You can even know that God sent Him to die for your sins, but if you don’t respond to that knowledge correctly you have not wisdom.  If you doubt me on this listen to what Paul said about Christ and wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:30

“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption”

As we begin this book let me give you this short outline:

McGee, J. V. (1997). Thru the Bible commentary (electronic ed.). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Outline

I. Wisdom and Folly Contrasted, Chapters 1–9

II.  Proverbs of Solomon, Chapters 10–24
(Written and set in order by himself)

III.  Proverbs of Solomon, Chapters 25–29
(Set in order by men of Hezekiah)

IV.  Oracle of Agur, Unknown Sage, Chapter 30

V.  Proverbs of a Mother to Lemuel, Chapter 31

May you have a day full of wisdom!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!