Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. (NLT)

A simple definition of wisdom is: The practical application of knowledge. For instance, knowledge says a tomato is a fruit, wisdom says it does not belong in a fruit salad.

Wisdom has been studied for ages, and I do not pretend to know all the answers as to what wisdom is. But having said that, here are some thoughts about wisdom that might help in understanding.

• Wisdom can come with life experiences.
• Wisdom can be acquired over time.
• Wisdom comes more easily to those willing to learn.
• Wisdom is judging rightly about things in life and conduct.
• Wisdom knows when to speak and when not to speak.

As a great man once said, “You have to know when to hold’em, when to fold’em, when to walk away, and when to run.”

Many times, we know what the problem is, but not how to solve it. We may know what needs to be done, but we don’t know which process or policy to follow to achieve the best results.

Some people confuse knowledge with wisdom. They are not the same. You can have knowledge without wisdom. There are a lot of smart people with no wisdom. Also, there are some people with a lot of common sense but no “education.”

It might also be good to make some distinctions. Knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are close traveling companions in the book of Proverbs. One writer gave these definitions this way:

• Knowledge = facts and information
• Understanding = grasping what those facts mean
• Wisdom = knowing what to do with them in real life

In the books of Moses, God told Moses what the tabernacle was to be like. That is knowledge, but how to accomplish that?

Exodus 36:1  Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.

God gave the knowledge of the tabernacle to Moses and how to accomplish the work to Bezaleel and Aholiab. God gave these men the wisdom and the know-how to build what Moses had the plans for.

Wisdom is more than how to deal with people; it’s more than how to walk wisely in the body of Christ.

Most areas of our lives require wisdom, but we may call wisdom by other names.

1. In business, wisdom is commonly called acumen or business sense.
2. In the trades, wisdom is commonly called craftsmanship or skill.
3. Dealing with people and our conduct in daily life can require wisdom.
4. Wisdom is necessary in judgments, as in those who sit in judgment.

This is not an extensive list of the areas of wisdom, but we can see that the word “wisdom” covers a lot of territory.

There were many wise people in the Old Testament. Enoch, Abraham, Noah, and Moses come to mind. But the first place wisdom comes up is in Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dream and Joseph’s instructions on how to handle the coming famine.

1. The wisdom Joseph had to administer all the necessary details to carry out what God said to do might fall under what we today call business acumen. When it came to the administration of the kingdom, he was a very wise man. Wisdom that he gained from God.

Genesis 41:38,39  And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

It is interesting here that Pharaoh recognized that the wisdom he just heard came from the spirit of God in Joseph.

2. The next place we see wisdom spoken of is in the building of the tabernacle. What we might today call craftsmanship or skill.

Exodus 31:2-5  See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:  And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,  And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

If you ever get a chance to see an animation of how the tabernacles fit together, it might blow your mind.  The precision with which all the prices fit together without any modern equipment, like lasers. The wisdom of God showed them how to do all the work with what was available in the wilderness.

It is interesting that the first two places where the spirit of God/Wisdom is mentioned in the Bible concern the administration of a kingdom and workers in the trades. This knowledge should be quite encouraging to those in government and the trades.

4. The next area where wisdom is useful is in dealing with people. Proverbs talks about speaking with fools, raising children, and our conduct in daily life.
5. The next area of wisdom is in judgment.

Deuteronomy 1:16  And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.

2Chronicles 19:6  And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.

1Ki 3:28  And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

To judge righteously, the judge needs the wisdom of God. The judge needs to conduct a diligent search into the problem, but ultimately, he needs God’s wisdom to judge rightly.

Without God in the mix in our lives, we are just spinning our wheels.  What is built on the wisdom of God will last.

Psalm 127:1  .. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: …

The wisdom of God is the solid foundation on which to build our lives: our relationships with others, our work, the raising of our children, and in carrying out our function in the body of Christ.

Matthew 7:24,25  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

That rock is Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:2,3  … to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

So, where to start to acquire this great wisdom of God? The first thing to do is to be born of God’s spirit. Then begin to read His Word and ask God to teach you.

Proverbs 9:10  The fear (great respect) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Fear here means having great respect for God and for what He has said in His Word. Then you could start by incorporating what God has already revealed in His Word into your life. Then, where you know you need more wisdom, ask Him to teach you.

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Wisdom is a very broad topic, but hopefully this introduction will help you in your quest to understand its role in The Prosperous Life.

Before we get any deeper into the subject of the wisdom of God, I thought it would be helpful to discuss the other type of wisdom available.

There are basically two types of wisdom. The wisdom of God and then the wisdom of the world. James describes both.

James 3:14-18 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Many cultures have had those who sought after wisdom. The Greeks were famous for this.

1Corinthians 1:19-25  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Even in ancient times, men were interested in and sought after wisdom.

1Kings 4:30  And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

When the people of other countries heard of Solomon’s wisdom, they came to hear him.

I Kings 4:31  For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

Just as the Greeks sought wisdom, many others in history have also sought after wisdom. Without God, they end up with the wisdom of the world, which is earthly, sensual, and devilish, and which God says He will destroy.

As far back as the Garden of Eden, Eve was promised that if she ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it would make her wise. That promise — that wisdom — was devilish.

What we want to find is the wisdom of God and have God open that wisdom to us as He did for Solomon and Jesus.

Just to be clear, there is much so-called wisdom available, but true wisdom comes from our Father. All the other wisdom that is in or of the world, no matter how great and right it seems, is of no long-term profit.

As a quick example, one of the great financial gurus of our time says that the way to wealth is through debt. Does God promote this as a way to prosperity? To borrow and use other people’s money (OPM)? NO! Some have followed this advice and made a lot of money, but others have lost everything they owned. God’s wisdom is to learn to give and save. The promise God makes in following His ways is:

Proverbs 10:22  The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

 In fact, God says the borrower is servant to the lender. This is covered extensively in the books, Poverty vs Wealth, Volume I and II.

What are some of the other promises of following the wisdom of God?

1. Length of days, long life, and peace.

Proverbs 3:1,2  My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

2. Favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:3,4  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

3. He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5,6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

4. Health

Proverbs 3:7,8  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

5. Storehouses filled and an abundance of new wine.

Proverbs 3:9,10  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

The wisdom of God has a lot to offer. In Proverbs Chapter 9, God invites us, by way of a figure of speech that depicts wisdom as a woman, to enter into His abundance of wisdom.

Proverbs 9:1-6  Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.  She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,  Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.  Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Wisdom is like a woman who has a very large and fabulous home in which she has prepared a wonderful banquet for God’s children. The tables are set; the meat and wine are ready. She (wisdom) says, “Come to what I have prepared for you and dine on my wisdom. Forsake the foolish wisdom of the world and live.”

These promises are just some of what is available in our quest for the wisdom of God in The Prosperous Life.

Psalm 90:12  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

It is commonly understood that the 90th Psalm was written by Moses about the generation that was to die in the wilderness. All the people from 20 years old and upward, except Joshua, Caleb, the priests, and the Levites.

Knowing they only have 38 to 40 more years to live, one of God’s instructions to them was to apply their hearts to wisdom.

“Apply our hearts to wisdom” is a little difficult to understand. Others have translated this as:

…gain a heart of wisdom. (NIV)

…may develop wisdom in our hearts. (Christian Standard Bible)

…we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom. (Amplified)

may grow in wisdom  —  may become wise  —   may develop inner wisdom.

Our lives are also relatively short and pass quickly like the grass of the field — here today and gone tomorrow. So, it might be in our best interest, in the short time we have here in this life, to understand why God is so interested in us gaining a wise heart.

Thinking about this, God could have said, “Since your days are numbered, learn to walk with me, learn to pray, learn to love one another, etc.” Actually, many of the attributes God could have asked them/us to gain or acquire could fall under the umbrella of wisdom.

God must esteem wisdom very highly. In fact, in the book of Proverbs, Chapter 8, God talks about wisdom.

The whole chapter is well worth reading, but we are going to concentrate first on verses 22-30. Let’s start with Vs 1.

Proverbs 8:1  Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

Here, God puts His wisdom in a figure of speech. His wisdom is presented as a person – it is personified. So, in this entire chapter, it is wisdom that is speaking.

Proverbs 8:22  The LORD possessed (created) me (wisdom) in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

Possessed is a confusing word. God does not possess anyone or anything. But you could look at it as God owning wisdom. By definition, in most lexicons, it could be translated as “created.”

The word used here for wisdom is the most common word translated as “wisdom” in the Old Testament.

Therefore, before God went to work to create the world, the universe we live in, He created wisdom.

Proverbs 8:22  The LORD possessed (created) me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

Proverbs 8:23  I (wisdom)was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

Proverbs 8:24  When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Proverbs 8:25  Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

Proverbs 8:26  While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

Proverbs 8:27  When he prepared the heavens, I (wisdom) was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

Proverbs 8:28  When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

Proverbs 8:29  When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Proverbs 8:30  Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I (wisdom) was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

From the beginning, wisdom was the first of God’s creation. Before all of His works, wisdom was there before the heavens and the earth and before the mountains and the seas. God obviously holds wisdom in high esteem. He sees it to be of immense worth. As His people, He instructs and asks us to grow in wisdom.

There are many who are supposed to have the answers to life — gods, ideologies, and/or political parties. But the Bible says in Romans 16:27 God is “only wise.”

When Adam was in the Garden of Eden, he was a man of body (Genesis 2:7: formed from the dust), soul (Genesis 2:7: breathed into man, and he became a living soul), and spirit (Genesis 1:27: created in the image of God). God had said that in the day they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would die. The part that died was their spirit, their connection with God.

So, God, being a loving and merciful Father, set out to redeem His man from man’s fallen state. God sees the big picture. He could see thousands of years into the future that there would come a time when He could redeem man. Man could have spirit born within. God’s answer to this huge problem of redeeming man was Jesus Christ.

This perfect man’s (Jesus Christ) death and resurrection paid in full for Adam’s sin and all the sins that resulted from his disobedience. This was the great wisdom of God.

1Corinthians 1:24  …  Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

The only wise God is the only one who could have planned this out because:

1 Corinthians 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

So, God, who is only wise, who created wisdom as the first of His creation, who authored the plan of redemption for mankind, instructs us to gain a heart of wisdom in this short time we have in this world.

In the following blogs, we will delve further into the subject of wisdom. This is part of our search into The Prosperous Life.