The world we live in today is filled with many men and women who consider themselves wise. They consider themselves to be the authority figure on the things of this world and problem solvers to life’s challenges. They come from wealthy families and have attended distinguished schools of education. They believe that they are wise because of the things they have accomplished on earth and that their wisdom supersedes everyone else’s. Only if they read their Bible would they truly understand where wisdom begins.
As stated in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” So, without fearing the Lord you cannot begin the process of gaining wisdom. To fear the Lord is to worship and reverence God for who he is. If you truly love and fear the Lord, you will be obedient to his commandments. True worship is obedience, not following your own wisdom but being lead and directed by Jesus, who died on the cross for your sins.
Scripture says in Proverbs 3:5-7, “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. Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”
A notable example of someone who considers himself to be wise would be Stephen Hawkins. Stephen Hawkins is an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest scientists alive today and the most well-known atheist in the world. He is quoted as saying, “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.” This is actually a condemning of himself. He has an illusion of knowledge with no knowledge. For the one with the knowledge, he has chosen not to seek but has chosen to put confidence in himself.
Scripture says in Proverbs 1:28, “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.”
True knowledge and confidence comes from Jesus and not of yourself, because you know it is he who does the work, and you are just a mere vessel through which he works. True wisdom and understanding come from him as well. It says in 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
Also, it says in Proverbs 2:6, “For the Lord gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.”
The ones who trust in the wisdom of this world are ignorant of the things of God. The ones who fear the Lord and obey his word have a different future. Of these truly wise people, Daniel 12:4 states, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
No matter who is in power anywhere in the world and what source they state their wisdom comes from, the Bible says we must pray for them. In 1 Timothy 2:1-5 it says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
Let us all continue to seek after wisdom. Let us not turn to any other source but Jesus. If we lack wisdom, as it says in James 1: 5, “…let us ask of God.” He will take us to his intended end, and we will not be disappointed when we get there. Maranatha!