Wisdom vs Knowledge

We can have much knowledge stored up in our brains. We can be smart with facts and figures and all sorts of information. We may even be a genius. We might be knowledgeable about many things, but that doesn’t necessarily make us wise. Wisdom is gained by watching, experiencing, and learning through life. Wisdom is using knowledge for good. Wisdom is not condescending. Wisdom is not arrogant. Wisdom is not superiority. Wisdom is not vain.

Wisdom is using knowledge to improve relationships and situations. It’s about creating new and better ideas and solutions, making good judgment calls, and giving the wisest advice.

1 Kings 3: 3-15

1 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord. 3 Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

King Solomon was King David’s son and God loved him. A time came when God asked Solomon what he desired and Solomon asked for discernment, wisdom, and the ability to rule his people well. This request pleased God so He graciously gave Solomon wisdom that surpassed all wisdom. But as Solomon grew older, he threw wisdom aside as he had a weakness for women. In all, he had approximately 700 wives and 300 concubines. Many were foreign women and this angered God, as Solomon allowed these women to lead his heart astray. He built idols to their gods. Even with being the wisest man to ever exist, he fell. Solomon was smart, a remarkable architect, and a poet/ writer. He had many other talents as well. He had it all, along with god-given wisdom, but He chose to disobey God. He chose to walk away and be wise in his own eyes. And it didn’t work out in his favor.

Knowledge is good, but wisdom is what counts. We need to constantly be learning so we can become wiser everyday. Just not wise in our own eyes.

Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Be grateful for wisdom. ♥️

Andi

Photos: all flowers from our beautiful garden at work, July 26, 2020.