Do you consider yourself to be smart? Do you think you have accumulated a lot of knowledge? Do you continue to read and study to learn even more? Do you believe you are wise? Do you equate knowledge and wisdom? Do you think they are the same?
We put a lot of emphasis on education in our culture. Education is certainly good. We need to know most of the subjects we learn in school, even if we don’t think so at the time. The basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic are needed just to get through daily life.
The emphasis comes from our employers as well. Some require a bachelor’s degree. Others require a master’s degree. And some even require a doctorates degree. Not only do these employers require degrees but they require people to continue their education through certification processes and other continuing education classes.
But knowledge is not the same as wisdom. Whereas knowledge is the knowing of facts, wisdom is knowing how to apply them. To be wise we must think. Spouting facts and figures is not wisdom. Wisdom is knowing the facts, determining how to use them, and putting them to use for the good of our community.
Proverbs 9:10 states “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This means that by following God’s principles we can appropriately apply the knowledge we have gained to further his plan. God’s wisdom includes applying his principles, guidance, and commands along with knowledge. To be wise, we must rely on God, not just our knowledge.
I pray we all choose to be wise. I pray we follow God’s principles, guidance, and commands. I pray each one of us will continue our education with God’s plan in mind as we apply knowledge. Continue to learn. Abide by God’s principles. Follow God’s guidance. Obey God’s commands. Be wise.
1 Corinthians 12:8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
Marty Pressey 