What do we do when the question is about a gray area in life? What kind of decisions should we make when the alternative is not between a right or a wrong? How do we know what to do when faced with good, better, or best options? How do we know what options are good, better, or best?

These are questions regarding wisdom. Gaining knowledge is important as we observed in last Monday’s post about learning. What we do with knowledge gained is wisdom. Biblical wisdom is the right application (practice) of knowledge and understanding.

The Wisdom Motto: To be wise is to exercise knowledge and understanding.

There are many places in the Old and New Testaments that address the topic of wisdom and making wise decisions. We will highlight two here.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Proverbs 9:10

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:13-18

Proverbs is a part of the Old Testament wisdom literature that also includes Job, Psalms, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes. Fearing the Lord is where knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) and wisdom begin (Proverbs 9:10). The Lord made the earth by wisdom (Proverbs 3:19) and wisdom is one of his attributes (Jeremiah 10:12). To be wise means that one has a proper view of God in his greatness, wisdom, and holiness.

It is important for Christians to realize that wisdom does not begin with us. It begins with God. Thus a proper relationship to God and understanding from God are integral to becoming wise.

While the New Testament does not have a wisdom literature section like the Old Testament, James contains wisdom elements. In the paragraph above, James highlights wisdom’s conduct. Earthly wisdom acts selfishly and disordered. Heavenly wisdom acts pure and truthful. In other words, wisdom exercises knowledge through behavior and conduct. Wisdom (or the lack thereof) is revealed by our choices.

We should own the fact that a great many of our decisions will not be right or wrong decisions. They will be about what is wise or not wise.

Wisdom is not mere information acquisition; it is proper practice from knowledge gained. To become wise one must apply what he or she has learned. The takeaways are key here.

Meditation takeaways:

• Memorize Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10. Meditate on those verses. Consider how the fear of the Lord begins knowledge and wisdom.
• Reflect on James 3:13-18. Consider your past choices and behaviors. In what ways have you acted based on earthly wisdom? Heavenly wisdom?
• Read the wisdom literature regularly. Proverbs has 31 chapters–one for each day of most months. If you sense that you lack wisdom, begin reading a chapter a day from Proverbs. Choose one proverb daily to reflect on deeply through prayer and meditation.
• Seek out those who are wise. Wisdom can be taught, but it is most often caught. Being around wise people will help you become wise.
• Act wisely. Wisdom is active. So do what wisdom teaches you to do.

May God help us see him properly and act wisely.

Photo by Robert Wiedemann on Unsplash