“When I was feeding my pigs last night, a strong wind shook the trees. Dead limbs fell all around my hog lot. Then the Lord spoke to me and I saw that’s what He is doing here with us—shaking off the dead limbs.” Donna and I were in the mist of our first ‘church storm’ after committing our lives to Christ. Several people had left the church and others threatened to leave. Papa Sanders never attended school, but he had taught himself to read the Bible. He was considered the patriarch of the small church we began attending. He always sat on the front pew on the far right. On this Sunday night, he stood up and spoke the above words. This was my first encounter with the words of a wise man. It might seem a strange illustration to some however; these words of wisdom brought a peace to the congregation. It helped us understand all that was taking place and that God was still in control. Soon the storm ended, a few had left, and our congregation began growing again. Through the years, his wisdom helped us through more difficult times.
Most often scripture places knowledge and wisdom together. Lack of knowledge destroys God’s people (Hos 4:6) yet, knowledge alone is futile. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts and ideas acquired through study, research, observation, or experience. The particular word Hosea chose for knowledge adds another dimension—intimacy. This word constitutes more than the mere accumulation of facts; it means to know intimately through a personal experience. Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain (Gen 4:1). Here Moses used knew as a euphemism for sexual relations. This illustrates the intimacy of the word. Knowing God indicates an intimate knowledge through observing and experiencing Him and not just rote memory of facts from the Bible.
Scripture also places understanding in tandem with wisdom and knowledge. Understanding means the ability to translate meaning from the knowledge or information, facts, or data we accumulate. The Bible stresses its importance. To get understanding is to be chosen above silver (Prov. 16:16). In the parable of the Sower Jesus says without understanding the devil steals the knowledge a person receives from hearing the Word preached. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart (Mat 13:19).
A Japanese proverb says knowledge without wisdom is a load of books on a fool’s back. In its simplest meaning, wisdom is the ability to apply practically the knowledge and understanding one has accumulated. Solomon places the highest value on wisdom. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom (Prov. 4:7 NIV). How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! (Prov. 16:16). “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom” (Charles H. Spurgeon).
Knowledge comes through reading or hearing the Word of God. Understanding comes from study of the Word. Christians can read the Bible and even acknowledge, “I read it but I don’t understand it,” however do nothing else toward understanding what it means and how it applies to their daily life. A person with knowledge but without understanding will travel down a path of immaturity. Knowledge without God’s wisdom is a recipe for disaster. Wisdom is not something we gain in a college course or a weekend seminar. Rather wisdom is a quality gained through experiences in life. It first begins and continues with a proper understanding of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10). James tell us, But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him (Jas 1:5).
Daniel wrote, Seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase (Dan 12:4). We live in an age when there has been an exponential explosion of knowledge. Man now has more knowledge that his has wisdom too correctly, safely, and morality utilize. Knowledge and understanding of the Bible is more available today for believers than in the history of the Church. This leaves a believer without excuse to understand. We need knowledge and understanding, but more than anything, we need Christians with wisdom and the ability to use knowledge to change the world. Problem—many accumulate a lifetime of knowledge; yet never have wisdom. You do not need a Bible College degree or have a high IQ to have wisdom. Papa Sanders had little education, but a little knowledge with wisdom has more effect than much knowledge with no wisdom.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Continue gaining knowledge, and striving for understanding, but most of all, ask God for wisdom.