What you know
God is the source of all wisdom and understanding. It is that by which heaven and earth were established. His knowledge has determined the wonders of the world we live in every day. He’s given you the ability and command to gain knowledge and insight, yet how do you invest your intellect for God’s glory?
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
Proverbs 3:19–20
As the creator worked through perfect wisdom and understanding to make all things. God also instructs us to get wisdom and understanding. Wisdom, insight and understanding are obtainable, but it starts with desiring it. You must take action to get it.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
Proverbs 4:7
You must want to learn. If you don’t seek to learn, you will not learn.
True wisdom and insight start with knowing the creator. If you have wisdom and knowledge in a certain field, without knowing the creator, that wisdom is ultimately useless in light of eternity.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7
What does this knowledge, wisdom and instruction look like? What does it mean to fear the LORD? In a nutshell it means to trust and obey the LORD in everything. You must know His word and obey His word.
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.
Proverbs 3:13-14
The fear of the LORD ultimately comes from knowing Jesus the Messiah, trusting Him for salvation, and obeying His voice. For more info see Spiritual Reality Check. Taking this as the foundation, here is a great summary of true wisdom as compared to false, temporary, and earthly wisdom.
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
Beyond what you know
God is very concerned with what you know, but more importantly what you do with what you know. He has given you the intellectual tools to find length of days, years of life, peace, favor and good success in the sight of God and Man. But you must go beyond knowledge and get wisdom, which is simply “knowledge applied”. Listen to one of the wealthiest man who ever lived explaining this:
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:1-5
Growth is simply learning and acting upon what you know. The one who has knowledge, but does not act on that knowledge has not learned anything, and that knowledge is useless.
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.
Proverbs 13:16
Just ensure you’re learning good things.
Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; they become destiny.
Frank Outlaw
What goes on inside our mind ultimately becomes our destiny. To change your destiny, you must change your thoughts. This is the key to becoming who you want to be.
For example, if you say “I’m stuck in my current situation. I can’t change it,” then you never will. Saying “I can’t” turns your brain off. If instead you ask the question: “How can I change it?” that keeps your brain working on the solution. Every great achievement of mankind always began with the question “How Can I?” And no great achievement ever began with, “I can’t.”
Remember to align who you want to be with who God wants you to be.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8
Knowledge Applied
In business and work, you must learn to be a problem solver and provide value. You get paid according to the size of the problems you solve.
Look at dollars as thank you notes for your product or service. Solve small problems, get paid small. Solve big problems, get paid big.
You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.
Zig Ziglar
Wisdom does not come by accident. It is the result of careful effort, necessary for building anything worthwhile. This starts with building a house and making it home.
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Proverbs 24:3–4
This is true of building a house, building a household, raising a family, starting a business, solving problems, creating value, and growing in holistic stewardship of all forms of capital.
If you’re not where you want, start with resetting your mindset.
If you’re not sure what you want, start with some basic goal setting.
Summary
Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
The information on anything you could possibly want to learn is readily available. Cultivate the desire to grow in knowledge and understanding. Then act upon it to embody true learning and wisdom, thus investing well your intellect for God’s glory.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Reflect
What is your favorite bible verse on wisdom?
What is something big you’ve learned that changed your words, actions, habits, character and end results?
