Learn to Be Wise

My class is currently studying a Christian allegory from the 1600’s.

It was written by a theologian who was also an educator.

He began one of his books for education with the phrase: “Come, boy, learn to be wise.”

I think that is brilliant.

The author chose the word wise instead of intelligent.

Although many use the words interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing.

Intelligence is the ability to acquire new knowledge.

Wisdom takes the acquired knowledge and puts it to discerned use.

As an example, intelligence tells me my car can go extremely fast.

Wisdom tells me I should obey the speed limit.

The world has produced many that could be called intelligent.

But not all those labeled intelligent have wisdom.

Scripture has a great deal to say when it comes to wisdom.

Wisdom can be found in the Old Testament.

Proverbs 2:6 (NET) - For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

Notice that the word wisdom is used rather than intelligence.

Proverbs 16:16 (NET) - How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.

The New Testament also speaks to the importance of wisdom.

More importantly, it tells how to acquire it.

James 1:5 (NET) - But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.

Jesus speaks on the importance of wisdom.

Matthew 7:24 (NET) - Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.

When it comes to wisdom, my favorite example from scripture is found in Matthew 2.

Matthew talks about the “wise men” who came to worship Jesus.

He does not call them the “intelligent men”.

I am certain that there were others who saw the star and recognized it as significant.

They were intelligent.

But these men acted on it.

They sought Jesus out to worship him.

That was a very wise thing to do.

The truly wise still seek Jesus today.

Let us learn to be wise!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 24, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, February 7, 2020