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God’s wisdom is not the world’s wisdom. It is found in his Word and through his Holy Spirit living in his children.
Are knowledge and wisdom the same thing? Are they related to each other?
Some (wise) people have said that wisdom is knowledge plus experience, like this:
KNOWLEDGE + EXPERIENCE = WISDOM
But true wisdom that comes from God is more like this:
KNOWLEDGE + EXPERIENCE + GOD'S TRUTH + JESUS' LIFE & TEACHING + HOLY SPIRIT'S GUIDANCE = WISDOM
The Bible tells us that Jesus — the wisest person of all time who was himself called "the wisdom of God" — actually grew in wisdom during his lifetime (see the story about Jesus at age 12). When he came to earth as a fully human person, he gave up many of his divine privileges, so he wasn't born knowing everything.
If Jesus needed to grow in wisdom and understanding, certainly we do too.
The world thinks itself very wise. It's filled with ideas and advice that it says will lead to happiness, joy, fulfillment, success, and satisfaction. But the world lies. It always has. It always will. (Which isn’t to say there aren’t good and beautiful things in this world: there are. But everything that is good and beautiful is from God. And everything that diverges from God, even slightly, is born of falsehood and deception.) Sin entered the world when the first humans tried to gain wisdom in the wrong way (check out Genesis 3:1-7).
The world is a tricky place, offering countless opportunities for God’s children to go astray. One of the things that can help protect against that is wisdom — God's true wisdom about how to act, how to react, how to make decisions, how to speak, how to relate to other people, and so much more.
In his letters to Jesus’ first followers, the apostle Paul often wrote that he prayed they would have deeper wisdom and understanding. We should pray the same thing for ourselves and others.
We need wisdom — true wisdom that comes from God, embodied in Jesus, revealed by the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that we can confidently ask for it because God promises to give it.
Begin with a conversation starter, then use some of these warm-up questions.
Use one or more of these passages to see what Scripture says about wisdom. You can also engage with the passage by copying out part of it, rewriting it as a prayer, rephrasing it as its opposite, summarizing it with a single word or phrase, making a list or chart of similar and dissimilar things, or turning it into something visual like a doodle, design, or flowchart.
Read Luke 2:41-52 (Jesus in the temple at age 12).
Read Matthew 7:24-27 (parable of the wise and foolish builder).
Read James 3:13-18 and Proverbs 1:1-7.
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. 1 Kings 3:10
But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his. Job 12:13
Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold. Job 28:17
Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever! Psalm 111:10
Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7
But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it. Luke 7:35
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made up pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 1 Corinthians 1:30
I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. Ephesians 1:16-17
Be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Ephesians 5:15
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. Philippians 1:9-10
We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. Colossians 1:9-10
In [Christ] lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3
We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God. Titus 2:12
If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13
The wisdom from above is first of all pure. it is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. James 3:17
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2103 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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