Wisdom does not equal knowledge. That’s what I’ve been meditating on this week. I’m slowly reading through Job, and I’m once again delighted with his discussion of wisdom. It’s beautiful writing in itself, but it’s also challenging.
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
22Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
23God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
24For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
25To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
26When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
27Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:20-28)
What I’ve been pondering is that I often equate wisdom with knowledge. I think that because I read a good verse (like the ones above), I’ve gained wisdom. On the contrary, the fear of the Lord and understanding, components of wisdom in this passage, include a clear call to action. This passage reminds me of James’s discussion of faith: if it doesn’t have action, or works, it’s not true faith. Likewise, wisdom that doesn’t include action, or obedience to the Word, isn’t true wisdom.
That thought has been motivating me to act, to obey what I know is right: loving my husband by getting up to make him coffee and lunch, making dinner (and not mac and cheese five times a week!), blogging at night so my mornings aren’t chaotic, and so on. I know a handful of right actions that I don’t always do because I don’t feel like doing them. Funny thing, that’s something I’ve been talking about with my children!
Specifically, how is Scripture changing you this week?
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