I know a guy.
He knows everything about everything. Whatever question you have, he can probably give you the facts behind it. His fund of knowledge is shockingly broad. Just about every time we talk I learn something new. In a word, he is extremely knowledgeable. And yet, his life is a mess. Knowledge is a good thing; but, it is only the first step. There are savants who can memorize the Oxford English Dictionary……..but who cannot feed themselves.
Knowledge is the accumulation of facts. But, for knowledge to be of any value, we have to be able to assemble those facts into a useful structure. This is the next step…….intelligence. Intelligence is the ability to manipulate facts into a useful framework……to be able to use facts…….to be able to apply facts. If I know the dimensions of all of the parts of a watch, I have knowledge. If I can apply that knowledge and assemble the watch, then I have intelligence. Intelligence is applied knowledge. Intelligence is a loftier goal than knowledge. But even this is not enough. Some of the most successful criminals in history had knowledge and intelligence. They used these gifts to create criminal empires……to cause wars……to rob, maim, enslave, and kill. Clearly, knowledge and intelligence are good, things. But, history teaches that they are not enough. There is a goal that is loftier yet.
Wisdom
Wisdom is intelligence applied to knowledge to achieve good. Now we are getting somewhere.
Knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom are good things. They are things we should strive for. But there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that for each of us, there is a limit to the knowledge and intelligence that we can posses and use. Some have great intelligence and a huge fund of knowledge…….others, not so much. The good news is that wisdom has no limit. There is no glass ceiling preventing your development of wisdom. Wisdom can be studied. Wisdom can be learned. We learn wisdom by apprenticeship. We learn wisdom by reading the works of the wise. We learn wisdom by associating with wise people. We learn wisdom by associating with good people. The Bible is a good place to start.
Though I didn’t graduate, for a couple of years I attended a prestigious university and I accumulated a lot of knowledge……90% of which I have completely forgotten. But I once took a literature course on short stories. One of the assignments was “Gimpel the Fool” by Singer. This story changed my life. I keep a copy and reread it every now and then. I strongly recommend it. It is the story of a man who lacks knowledge and intelligence…….but who, through a lifetime of experience, observation, and action, develops wisdom.
Seek out wise people…….good people.
Avoid angry destructive people.
Read the writing of the wise.
Study the Bible.
Apply knowledge and intelligence to do good.
“Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death .”
Wisdom speaking, Proverbs 8: 32-36, ESV
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
James 3:17, ESV
indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding
Solomon, Proverbs 2:3-6, NIV
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Jesus explaining wisdom, Matthew 7:24-25 NIV