The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness. Proverbs 15:2
In the Bible wisdom and knowledge are gifts of the Spirit.
to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit,
to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
1 Corinthians 12:8
True wisdom comes from God. It existed in him before he created the world or its people. Psalms 124 describes the greatness of God, the creator of all that exist. God used his wisdom to create this world.
How countless are Your works, LORD!
In wisdom You have made them all;
the earth is full of Your creatures
Psalms 104:24
God shares his wisdom with his children through gifts. Wisdom is not earned or bought. It is a gift that God gives as he desires.
When Solomon became king, he realized the great responsibility of ruling Israel and he asked God to give him wisdom and knowledge.
Because Solomon did not ask for riches or glory God granted his request. Solomon was not only wise and knowledgeable in ruling Israel, he also taught on plants, animals, and many other things. Rulers from all over the world came to Solomon to learn from his wisdom.
It is God’s pleasure to give us wisdom. We only need to pray and ask.
How does wisdom manifest itself? How will we know it when we see it? Let us begin by studying how Jesus used wisdom. When Jesus taught he did not use complicated descriptions, or convoluted philosophies. He taught with simple ideas and words such as oil, lamp, sheep, farming, love, hate, envy, and joy. He taught things a common person could understand. He taught with parables that drew from everyday life. His words described scenes that were happening daily. Nothing was complicated. Yet every word was profound. Even so, his teachings have stood for two thousand years. Millions of people still rely on his words to guide them in life.
Wisdom it not complicated. It applies to daily life in all situations. It provides you with what is needed to accomplish an immediate task.
In Luke 5:4-10, when Jesus called Peter to follow him, he began by telling Peter to put his net in the water and try to find fish again. Peter was fishing all night and had caught nothing. But Jesus told Peter to try one more time. Peter obeyed and when he pulled his net out of the water there were so many fish that two boats could not hold all of them.
Jesus had wisdom from God to know where the fish were. Even though Peter could not see this Jesus could. This is God given wisdom. To see a situation in a way others cannot. To understand something that someone needs to know. Wisdom from God does more than give information. It also spiritually convicts people of God’s greatness and power.
Peter was convicted of his sinfulness compared to God’s greatness.
Jesus used this wisdom from God to show Peter what he would do as he following Jesus.
Wisdom is a valuable gift from God, which we should ask to receive as Solomon did. In all situations God can help us by sharing his wisdom with us.
Knowledge is also a gift from God. The knowledge which God gives is different from the book knowledge we acquire in school. God’s knowledge is all encompassing covering everything that exist in the past, present, and future. God’s chooses to impart his knowledge to his children as he desires.
As with wisdom we do not earn God’s knowledge. We may pray for knowledge but God decides when to give it to us. In Psalm 139, David declares the knowledge of God is more than he can understand. God knows everything we do. He knows what we will say before we say it. Nothing can be hidden form God. LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
The beginning of knowledge is to fear the Lord. True knowledge is to understand more and more of God.
When we fear the Lord, we are not terrified of something horrible coming into our lives. Rather we know the greatness of God and we realize that we are mere ants compared to him. We know that our power and might are small in comparison to the creator of all that exist. We are humbled before his majesty. This is the place where we being to know the difference between good and evil, right and wrong, our weakness and great strength. These are the godly facts which lead to true knowledge.
The spirit of wisdom and knowledge was given to Jesus when he walked on this earth.
Jesus displayed this knowledge in the New Testament when he saw Nathaniel for the first time. Nathaniel did not believe the Messiah could come from Nazareth? He went to meet Jesus and was amazed by his knowledge.
Jesus’ knowledge convicted Nathaniel that Jesus was the Messiah. He could not imagine any other way a man would know his heart and see him under the fig tree. As with godly wisdom, godly knowledge will convict people with faith to believe in Jesus as their savior.
Godly knowledge may come to a person with godly wisdom. In Acts 9, after Paul was struck down on the Damascus road he was lead to a house where he stayed for three days. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. God spoke to him, giving him a word of knowledge as to Paul’s exact location and what he was doing.
God followed this with a word of wisdom, which told Ananias what to do with the knowledge of Paul’s location and prayers.
God could have given Paul his sight after Paul prayed. But God chose to have Ananias come to Paul with knowledge only God could provide. This was to convict Paul of what Jesus wanted from Paul and what Paul must do for Jesus.
Wisdom and knowledge work together. Sometime we are given wisdom to help ourselves or another person with knowledge that already have. Other times we are given knowledge to confirm or prepare us for an event. Sometime we are given both. Godly wisdom and knowledge always are used to convict us of the truth, the power, and the supremacy of God
Dear Lord, Lead us and guide us in all we do. You are a great and almighty God. Teach us to fear the Lord. Show us your great wisdom and knowledge. Do not leave us to our own understanding. Teach us to pray for godly wisdom and knowledge in our lives. Show us how to wait patiently for your perfect timing to impart wisdom and knowledge to us. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.
When Solomon became king, he realized the great responsibility of ruling Israel and he asked God to give him wisdom and knowledge.
Now grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people,
for who can judge this great people of Yours?”
2 Chronicles 1:10
Because Solomon did not ask for riches or glory God granted his request. Solomon was not only wise and knowledgeable in ruling Israel, he also taught on plants, animals, and many other things. Rulers from all over the world came to Solomon to learn from his wisdom.
From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom,
sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
1 Kings 4:34
It is God’s pleasure to give us wisdom. We only need to pray and ask.
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives to all generously and without criticizing,
and it will be given to him.
James 1:5
How does wisdom manifest itself? How will we know it when we see it? Let us begin by studying how Jesus used wisdom. When Jesus taught he did not use complicated descriptions, or convoluted philosophies. He taught with simple ideas and words such as oil, lamp, sheep, farming, love, hate, envy, and joy. He taught things a common person could understand. He taught with parables that drew from everyday life. His words described scenes that were happening daily. Nothing was complicated. Yet every word was profound. Even so, his teachings have stood for two thousand years. Millions of people still rely on his words to guide them in life.
Wisdom it not complicated. It applies to daily life in all situations. It provides you with what is needed to accomplish an immediate task.
In Luke 5:4-10, when Jesus called Peter to follow him, he began by telling Peter to put his net in the water and try to find fish again. Peter was fishing all night and had caught nothing. But Jesus told Peter to try one more time. Peter obeyed and when he pulled his net out of the water there were so many fish that two boats could not hold all of them.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down
the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night
and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets
began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help
them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
Luke 5:4-7
Jesus had wisdom from God to know where the fish were. Even though Peter could not see this Jesus could. This is God given wisdom. To see a situation in a way others cannot. To understand something that someone needs to know. Wisdom from God does more than give information. It also spiritually convicts people of God’s greatness and power.
Peter was convicted of his sinfulness compared to God’s greatness.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord;
I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish
they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
Luke 4:8-10
Jesus used this wisdom from God to show Peter what he would do as he following Jesus.
Wisdom is a valuable gift from God, which we should ask to receive as Solomon did. In all situations God can help us by sharing his wisdom with us.
My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
Proverbs 3:21
Knowledge is also a gift from God. The knowledge which God gives is different from the book knowledge we acquire in school. God’s knowledge is all encompassing covering everything that exist in the past, present, and future. God’s chooses to impart his knowledge to his children as he desires.
As with wisdom we do not earn God’s knowledge. We may pray for knowledge but God decides when to give it to us. In Psalm 139, David declares the knowledge of God is more than he can understand. God knows everything we do. He knows what we will say before we say it. Nothing can be hidden form God. LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest;
You are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, LORD.
You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me.
This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
Psalm 139:1-6
The beginning of knowledge is to fear the Lord. True knowledge is to understand more and more of God.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
The spirit of wisdom and knowledge was given to Jesus when he walked on this earth.
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
Isaiah 11:2
Jesus displayed this knowledge in the New Testament when he saw Nathaniel for the first time. Nathaniel did not believe the Messiah could come from Nazareth? He went to meet Jesus and was amazed by his knowledge.
Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said about him,
“Here is a true Israelite; no deceit is in him.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you, ”Jesus answered.
“Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
John 1:47-50
Jesus’ knowledge convicted Nathaniel that Jesus was the Messiah. He could not imagine any other way a man would know his heart and see him under the fig tree. As with godly wisdom, godly knowledge will convict people with faith to believe in Jesus as their savior.
Godly knowledge may come to a person with godly wisdom. In Acts 9, after Paul was struck down on the Damascus road he was lead to a house where he stayed for three days. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. God spoke to him, giving him a word of knowledge as to Paul’s exact location and what he was doing.
“Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him,
“to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul,
since he is praying there. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias
coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”
Acts 9:11-12
God followed this with a word of wisdom, which told Ananias what to do with the knowledge of Paul’s location and prayers.
But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument
to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites.
I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”
Acts 9:15-16
God could have given Paul his sight after Paul prayed. But God chose to have Ananias come to Paul with knowledge only God could provide. This was to convict Paul of what Jesus wanted from Paul and what Paul must do for Jesus.
Wisdom and knowledge work together. Sometime we are given wisdom to help ourselves or another person with knowledge that already have. Other times we are given knowledge to confirm or prepare us for an event. Sometime we are given both. Godly wisdom and knowledge always are used to convict us of the truth, the power, and the supremacy of God
Dear Lord, Lead us and guide us in all we do. You are a great and almighty God. Teach us to fear the Lord. Show us your great wisdom and knowledge. Do not leave us to our own understanding. Teach us to pray for godly wisdom and knowledge in our lives. Show us how to wait patiently for your perfect timing to impart wisdom and knowledge to us. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.
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