Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - KNOWLEDGE-WISDOM

KNOWLEDGE-WISDOM

Probably the first decision man ever had to make was when mankind was tempted by Satan who asked the question:

“Has God indeed said?” 

(Genesis 3:1)

The answer mankind gave to the question of God’s authority at that time has reverberated through history, for man is continually confronted by that same question. Is man to follow God’s instructions or has he the right and freedom to choose his own path and therefore control his own destiny? History has shown that for the most part we have chosen the latter course of action.

This has taken place in spite of warnings to the contrary in Scripture. We are told to:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding.

(Proverbs 3:5)

Thus mankind, as a whole, developed and progressed and seemed to do more by himself. Through discoveries and invention, there seemed to be less need for God and His help and so we relied more and more on our own knowledge and ingenuity rather than following the directive of the Bible. As countries become more sophisticated and advanced, it seems that they needed to rely less and less on God and more on their own abilities. But as their knowledge increased, it has become apparent that their wisdom did not keep pace with what they know. Knowledge is an acquaintance with facts, truths or principles;* whereas wisdom implies a knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgement as to action.* Again we are told that:

The fear of [or trust in] the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…

(Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10) 

…But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

(Proverbs 1:7)

So the Bible, without stating it directly, implies that we are fools to rely on our own understanding and knowledge rather than trusting in God. And after all, how much do we really know? How accurate is our knowledge? Every year, what is true seems to change and is replaced by a new truth. The Bible itself implies this when it states:

…We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up…

And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, 

he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

(1 Cor 8:1-2)

We don’t know all that we think we know or that we ought to know. As Thomas Edison stated:

We do not know one-millionth of one percent about anything**

This may have changed a little from when it was first stated but it still indicates that using incomplete knowledge without wisdom is far from ideal and certainly, to at least some extent, is responsible for the mess the world is presently in. 

Certainly something to think about.

*from dictionary.com

**The Evidence Bible, p.g. 1499