Knowledge vs. Wisdom
We’re in the final few weeks leading up to heated presidential election that has been made even hotter by not just a pandemic and protests, but widespread panic and anarchy.
Politicians attempt to use human knowledge to find solutions. But such efforts will not ultimately work, for human knowledge comes from broken sources - each one, in postmodern fashion, believing their own way is good and right, and are willing to fight tooth and nail to enforce it. Think “Civil War”, and we know what the outcome of such human knowledge can be.
Every one of our lives has been affected by world events in some way over the past few months. Our patience has been tested, our ambitions may have been neutralized, and none of us really know what to plan for anymore. If nothing else, these tragic events have revealed just how much we are not in control. But this feeling of vulnerability can be good. In fact, without it, we will never know the truth that empowers, protects, and saves.
Imagine if our presidential candidates, and all of our world’s leaders, responded as the young, newly-crowned King Solomon did, when God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon answered, “O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9)
Joseph was sold into slavery by his own jealous brothers, and was unjustly accused and thrown in jail for years. Yet in every circumstance, God was with him, and Joseph trusted Him to mark out his future. God favored him and took care of him, until it was time to raise him up to the second most prominent position in the known world. Through the Spirit of God, Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh’s dreams that prophesied a coming world-wide, seven-year famine, and in the wisdom of God Joseph was able to set up a plan to not only make sure that no one starved in Egypt during that time, but that others could come and find food as well. Even the powerful, God-less Pharaoh would see how un-human such abilities were:
“Then Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?’ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are.’” (Genesis 41:38-39).
But not everyone is so accepting of godly wisdom. In fact, those who are bent on following their own acquired knowledge, and the pride and arrogance that it creates, will consider the words of the Bible – the Word of God – as ancient, backwards, and irrelevant. But for those who seek God and His ways, which are above our human understanding, the Gospel becomes life and hope and the lens through which we can make sense of what’s happening in the world around us.
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
In my book, “On Borrowed Time”, I tell the stories of eight individuals who gained a wisdom that could only be attained by facing certain death and then receiving a second chance through the gracious hand of God.
One of those individuals is Jerry Conley. Out of an abusive home, a life of alcoholism and drug addiction, and a tragic vehicle crash, God preserved his life. When Jerry realized how much he needed and wanted the salvation that only Christ could provide, he surrendered his life to the Lord and found healing and a new, supernaturally energizing outlook on life. He provides the following wise advice:
“Always remember God loves you unconditionally, and there’s no sin he won’t forgive. Each day is a gift from God. Live each moment to the fullest. Always be thankful to God for His mercy. What’s done for Christ will last for eternity.”
The wisdom of God alone gives hope and can alone bring unity.
So how are you living your life today? Are you relying on your own, limited and deficient knowledge? Or are you operating in the life-giving, unlimited, powerful wisdom that comes from God? Here is the difference:
“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” (James 3:13-18)
Do you want to have true wisdom and understanding? You can:
“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.” (James 1:5)