How am I suppose to know who possesses wisdom? A good working definition could go a long way to help me and others reach for this. It seems to have little to do with age. I mean, there are a lot of people with a lot of knowledge, but isn’t wisdom different? It’s more than info and more than age. Maybe it’s something about accurate knowledge applied well. Maybe age figures in when experience is the key… but not all experience is relevant. That mystic transmission on intothemystic.org said something about “constant, but always moving” and I wonder about love in practice and an active forward pursuit of becoming a better lover?
Any thoughts?
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8 March 2006 at 16:02
Geovanna
Hello Dave, I think wisdom does not have to do with age. I think wisdom is learning from experiences (not only your own, but from others too!) and applying it. Having knowlege and using it. Wisdom is an action, not only something you know in your head. Thats me thoughts..its funny because a couple weeks ago I studied wisdom..and thats what I got out of it!
8 March 2006 at 16:28
Jake
Here’s what James 3:17 says wisdom is like, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” So, I guess the degree to which we possess these qualities is the extent to which we are wise.
9 March 2006 at 14:43
Dave
Hi guys, thanks for the input. I guess the reason I am asking is that I heard the phrase “older and wiser” one time too many. That last time left me wondering what I look for before deciding someone has wisdom to share.
Along the lines of both comments, does anybody have a suggestion for how to start a working definition?
9 March 2006 at 18:08
Jake
I must admit, even though I wish I didn’t have to, that “older and wiser” has been a reality in my life. Each stage I look back on and think, “Wow, I thought I knew…” Well, if you are a Bible believing guy, I’d start with accumulating the verses on wisdom. If not, then start with whatever knowledge base you trust.
10 March 2006 at 8:17
Noah
Well, first off I think it is important to differentiate between two kinds of wisdom: The wisdom of God and the wisdom of man.
Wisom of man:
Acts (7:22) tells us that Moses was “educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” - and yet he then tried to save Israel by his own hands, and started by killing someone. God had to send him to herd someone else’s sheep for 40 years before he was ready for God’s work. The wisdom of man didn’t get him anywhere.
This kind of wisdom will perish:
1 Co 1:19-20: “For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts. Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?
More importantly, man’s wisdom will not get us to God.
21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. (1 Cor 1)
Is man’s wisdom useless? No, not for the ways of man. But it has limited use in the kingdom of God. I would say that this kind of wisdom has everything to do with experience and knowledge.
God’s wisdom is a little harder to define. The rest of 1 Cor. has a lot to say on the subject. (Read it!) It says a lot about what God’s wisdom has nothing to do with (man’s wisdom, power, prestige, etc.). It says that Christ Jesus is our wisdom.
1 Cor 2:6: However, among the mature we do speak a wisdom, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
I’m assuming this is talking about spiritual maturity.
1Cor 12:18: to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit,…
So wisdom can be imparted by the Spirit.
I remember that Job mentions that wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and that knowledge is to depart from evil. It seems to me that God’s wisdom is:
Foolishness in our sight
Found in those who are spiritually mature (this has little to do with age or the passing of time)
Imparted by the spirit
Somehow I also have the feeling that wisdom has a lot to do with things we usually consider unconnected: love, faith, humility, and being child-like for example. Thoughts?
10 March 2006 at 8:21
niza
wisdom definetely has nothing to do with age, but i know that “the fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom”
10 March 2006 at 17:23
Dave
I began my search yesterday, Niza, and stumbled across that verse. It stuck out to me because it was only one I noticed in a cursory skimming of relevant texts that established a clear prerequisite — the fear of the Master
And Noah, I actually had not considered differentiating wisdom before your post. I think the kind of things I would like to continue exploring here are in your last paragraph.
What do we do with prerequisites and how are things like love, faith, and humility connected to wisdom?
6 April 2006 at 23:43
Adam
I think it is interesting that wisdom always concerns itself with actions, not facts. Wisdom is always applied to situations where action is, was or will be required. In a way, wisdom might be the ability to see the bigger picture — seeing wide angle where most people around a person are zoomed in close. And with that big picture comes understanding and judgement of where possible actions might lead.
Maybe that’s why the fear (or awe?) of the Lord is the starting point. A big picture of reality that doesn’t have our God intimately and powerfully involved throughout is no picture of reality at all.