“And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow” (Ecc. 1:13-18).
By all historical accounts, King Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, was best known for his wealth, wisdom, and writings. The king, the second after David and the last of a unified kingdom wrote these words decrying earthly wisdom, not because is it not useful, but as a warning. You may rightfully ask, “Why the warning? Isn’t wisdom something the Bible specifically encourages us seek?”, and you are right. Pro. 8:11 calls it precious, “for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” Using more figurative speech, the author highlights its characteristics in the very next verse, “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.” And that is not the only place.
In Pro. 3:13-18 it is once again compared to a fine woman, “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” Even the New Testament speaks of the importance of gaining wisdom, even telling the reader that God will not withhold it from those seeking its treasures – Jam. 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Clearly then, the Bible counts wisdom as a critical component of successful living, so what has Solomon got against it? This is his point; Our main aim in studying should be to improve our spiritual wisdom first because that will keep our lives centered on God and not on earthly motivations like titles and accolades. But, to understand what wisdom is, we need to understand the essential differences between its close cousin and itself, knowledge. The latter does not necessarily contain the former, but the former always contains the latter. Knowledge is the clarity of knowing things that comes from diligent study, usually. Wisdom, on the other hand, comes from practical experience and includes the ability to make informed, wise decisions, often with that acquired knowledge. In other words, you may have “book smarts”, but have no earthly idea of putting it into practice in a meaningful way.
Yes, with much knowledge, the world would give you all sorts of accolades and trophies, name buildings, streets, and all sorts of other things after you, but if that wisdom is not rooted in God, it ends when you do. Sure, the building will still be there long after your death and the world may speak of you hundreds of years later as it does Aristotle and Da Vinci. Chapters and books may also be written in your memory, but what good is that to you after your death? What gain would that be for you in the afterlife? I would expect quite the opposite of what you would desire. On the other hand, if you were “stupid” in worldly things and wise in spiritual ones, you would have the sense to remain obedient to God’s word and your death would be the beginning of a wonderful future.
And if you were to search for knowledge and wisdom in the Bible rather than the world alone, you would be able to repeat the words of Paul in 1 Cor. 2:13, “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” But, to successfully do so we must understand the word of the following verse as well – 1 Cor. 2:14, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” Understand where true wisdom is found – God’s Word, not man’s books. Understand who the teacher of wisdom truly is – God’s Spirit, not man.
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