Being Wise in an Unwise World
I have a daughter who understands math. All the numbers and symbols make sense to her. She reads math like a language. She knows how to apply it to come to a usable conclusion. I have a son who understands color and various art mediums. He understands how colors blend, and how light interacts with colors, shapes and objects. When he applies his understanding, he creates amazing paintings. Neither of my children got their understanding from me! God has gifted them both, but they have also put a lot of time and effort into understanding. Understanding is what makes knowledge and wisdom applicable.
Understanding puts the pieces together. It is the “ah-ha” where the light bulb comes on and we see where to go, what to do next, and how to do what we have been told and apply the information we have been given. King David’s counsel to his son and heir, Solomon, was “Acquire Wisdom! Acquire Understanding!” (Proverbs 4:5)
“Acquire” requires effort on our part. The Hebrew word qana means “to procure – obtain with care and effort.” It isn’t just something we pick up along the way, but are intentionally pursuing. In Proverbs 23:23 this word is translated “buy” – “Buy truth and do not sell it. Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.” What does “buy” imply? Obviously there is a cost involved. In the original text, there are four things we are to qana (procure at whatever cost or effort): truth, wisdom, instruction and understanding.
Proverbs 4:7 tells us,“The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding. (Both “acquire” and “get” in this verse is qana.) In other words, we need to put forth the effort, make the sacrifice, pursue and prioritize what is wise and in the process make sure we understand (bina) what is the specific wisdom, why it is wise and how to apply it. In the Book of Proverbs, a majority of the proverbs employ couplets. Some contrast, some provide comparison, and others add additional information. All of these are to give us a better understanding of the wisdom stated.
When we understand something, we are more likely to use it – do it. My daughter taught me this truth when she was just a toddler, then reinforced it through her teenage years, and continues to be model of it to this day: give her a reason – explain why – if it is logical to her, she is all in. Bulldozers can’t move her if it does not make sense to her.
If we are not very careful, something being logical can become an idol. If we set being logical as our standard of belief, trust or obedience, we’ve made it a god. There is also a real danger in equating illogical with impossible. When we do, we negate what is logical and possible with and/or by God. Understanding is not always going to fit with what the world or even we as believers see as “logical.”
Understanding is key to recognizing what is or isn’t wisdom. “They [words of wisdom] are straightforward to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.” (Proverbs 8:9) We get it – we recognize wisdom when we encounter it – it is believable.
When we understand something, we are more likely to use it – do it. My daughter taught me this truth when she was just a toddler, then reinforced it through her teenage years, and continues to be model of it to this day: give her a reason – explain why – if it is logical to her, she is all in. Bulldozers can’t move her if it does not make sense to her.
If we are not very careful, something being logical can become an idol. If we set being logical as our standard of belief, trust or obedience, we’ve made it a god. There is also a real danger in equating illogical with impossible. When we do, we negate what is logical and possible with and/or by God. Understanding is not always going to fit with what the world or even we as believers see as “logical.”
Understanding is key to recognizing what is or isn’t wisdom. “They [words of wisdom] are straightforward to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.” (Proverbs 8:9) We get it – we recognize wisdom when we encounter it – it is believable.
Simply being told what is wise will not make anyone wise. We need understanding. Simply understanding why it is wise will not make us wise either. Understanding makes wisdom applicable. It is the applying of wisdom and understanding that makes us wise. “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show it by his good behavior, his deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom.” (James 3:13)
Proverbs 7:4 tells us that we need to have a close personal relationship with wisdom and understanding. “Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call understanding your intimate friend.” A sister and a best friend are intended to do life with you. Support you. Encourage you. Speak truth to you. Give you insight. Provide you with a different perspective. Keep you on course. That means some times a sister/best friend has to say what we don’t want to hear. Proverbs 15:32b tells us, “He who listens to reproof acquires understanding.” In order for all this to happen, there has to be this continual personal and dynamic interaction.
In Psalm 119:144b is the plea “Give me understanding that I may live!” God has what we need. “Great is our Lord and abundant in strength, His understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5) And we get what we need from Him. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6) But we have to want it and put the effort into procuring it. “Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding.” (Proverbs 2:2)
Proverbs 10:23 gives us an interesting perspective. “Doing wickedness is like a sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding.” Both a sport!? There are two kinds of sports: one that is just play – all fun and games; the other kind of sport is serious and defining. A professional athlete or Olympic caliber amateur puts everything he/she is and has into understanding the details of his or her sport in order to be the best.
- What kind of "sport" is wickedness?
"Fun and games" is the attitude of a fool regarding doing what he knows is wrong.
- What kind of "sport" is understanding?
We have to have the same attitude and commitment of an Olympian in order to become a man or woman of understanding.
- What kind of "sport" is wickedness?
"Fun and games" is the attitude of a fool regarding doing what he knows is wrong.
- What kind of "sport" is understanding?
We have to have the same attitude and commitment of an Olympian in order to become a man or woman of understanding.
So, where do we procure this desperately need understanding?
#1 We get understanding directly from the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Jesus promised that we would be given the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth. “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) This is the same Spirit that was on Jesus. “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:2) It is a powerful statement to declare: “The Spirit of the LORD rests on [ME] —the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” Believing and understanding that truth is key to our promptly turning to the Holy Spirit for the wisdom and understanding we desperately need.
Paul said that our being filled with the Spirit of wisdom was his constant prayer. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.” (Ephesians 1:17,18NIV) “Enlightened” is a wonderful description of understanding. The Holy Spirit turns the light on!
#2 We get understanding from knowing God, especially Jesus.
In Proverbs 9:10, we are told that “the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” God wants us to know Him. “You are My witnesses," declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.” (Isaiah 43:10) He wants us to know, believe and understand who He is. “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20) Putting these two verses together thrills me to the core of my being. God wants us to know, believe and understand Him, and sent Jesus to make it possible! John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, [Jesus], has made him known.” We understand who God is and what God desires by knowing Jesus. Since He is no longer physically walking among us, we have to depend on His word.
#3 We get understanding from Scripture.
David prayed, “I am your servant, give me understanding that I may know Your testimonies.” (Psalm 119:125) A testimony is God telling us the truth about who He is, what He knows and what He has done. We get the knowledge we need to know God from God’s word. Psalm 119:130 tells us, “The unfolding of Your words gives light, it gives understanding to the simple.” I love that on the road to Emmaus Jesus “opened their minds to understand Scripture” (Luke 24:45) I believe He still does just that through the Holy Spirit if we ask. “Let my cry come before You, O Lord, give me understanding according to Your word.” (Psalm 119:169)
Do not expect to know the heart of God or the will of God without knowing the Word of God. Jesus said in Mark 12:24 “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scripture or the power of God?”
#4 We get understanding from under-shepherds, pastors and teachers, entrusted with His word.
- Jeremiah 3:15 Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.
- Ephesians 4:11-13NIV It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
There are several things required on our part when it comes to those the Lord put in our lives to help us “grow in grace and knowledge” (2 Pet. 3:18):
(1) We have to show up with a teachable spirit. “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” (Proverbs 1:5) “Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.” (Proverbs 9:9)
(2) We need to prayerfully process what we are being taught: enlisting the Holy Spirit, comparing it to the model of Christ’s teaching and example, and verifying it with God’s word. Paul told Timothy, “Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2 Timothy 2:7) In Acts 17:11, he complimented the Bereans for receiving “the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” A godly under-shepherd will always encourage us to put what is being taught to the test of Scripture. If they pass such scrutiny, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)
Those who are entrusted with teaching you the Word of God and help you “acquire understanding” must be imitatable. They need to be able to say what Paul said to the Corinthians: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1NIV) James 3:1 states that those who teach “will incur a stricter judgment.” Hebrews 13:17 says “They keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief for this would be unprofitable to you.”
#5 We get understanding over time and through experiences.
“Wisdom is with aged men, with long life is understanding.” (Job 12:12) But even then, it comes from God. “With Him are wisdom and might, to Him belongs counsel and understanding.” (Job 12:13) As we do life with God, He speaks truth into our lives and graciously gives us understanding.
We truly need wisdom and understanding. “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13) “Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you.” (Proverbs 2:1) “A man will be praised according to his insight.” (Proverbs 12:8a) “Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding.” (Proverbs 14:33a) Since we know where to acquire it, we are foolish if we don’t.
