A study of the book of Proverbs chapter three verses thirteen through eighteen.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding (vs 13 KJV)
It’s better to have understanding and wisdom rather than knowledge alone. As learned in Proverbs Chapter 1, smart and wise people are totally different. Smart people know things – they have information. Most mainstream church people are smart: full of knowledge of the bible, but have no understanding. They hurry to get another deep word only to store it in their mental file cabinets – they can’t do anything with it.
For instance, knowing about demons won’t help anyone. Understanding how to get rid of them and preventing them from returning is better, and when practiced, is wisdom. Knowing that Job is the oldest book of the bible and not Genesis; or knowing that there are, at least, three heavens doesn’t benefit anyone. Even though knowledge isn’t mentioned, the proverbs implies that knowledge (smarts) is not the end point, but the beginning – wisdom and understanding are most important.
World Knowledge
Proverbs Chapter 1 distinguishes between knowledge and wisdom as well. But unfortunately, because the world lacks wisdom (because it’s ran by the biggest fool – Satan), they strive for knowledge and call the accumulation of knowledge “wisdom”. They actually believe, the more data you have stuck in your head the wiser you are. Therefore, there are people with more degrees than a thermometer. People who use sixteen syllable words that no one else can understand just to look smart. Groups of men who sit around brain wrestling one another to see who’s amount of data wins.
When anyone tries to show off how much they know it looks really stupid to me. Who cares if you can calculate the tip for a meal in your head without using a calculator. Who cares how many scriptures you can quote – application of the scriptures are more important! All this “I-know-more-than-you” stuff is just plain old childish – it’s so immature to me. The only reason why I think this way is because my mind has been renewed in this area (Romans 12:2). Thank God.
On the side note: I hope no one will think that I’m envious of anyone’s knowledge, I would be in sin if I did. But when people lift up something on so high of a pedestal that has no eternal value, it shows how dumb they are. I shake my head when this happens and it disgusts me when someone actually believes they’re better than others because of their degrees. No. God says understanding and wisdom are more important, these are the end product. You are not wise because you know a bunch of data, you are only wise when you apply the moral and righteous knowledge (which is wisdom) of God in your own life.
Nothing compares
14 Wisdom is worth more than silver; it makes you much richer than gold. 15 Wisdom is more valuable than precious jewels; nothing you want compares with her. 16 In her right hand Wisdom holds a long life, and in her left hand are wealth and honor. 17 Wisdom makes life pleasant and leads us safely along. 18 Wisdom is a life-giving tree, the source of happiness for all who hold on to her (vs 14-18 CEV).
Wisdom is more precious than silver and gold, and nothing compares to it. This scripture is obvious to me, so I didn’t want to mention it. But there are still people who hold high value to jewels, smart phones, cars, designer clothes and material things over wisdom. These are garbage compared to wisdom.
It’s nothing wrong with these material things, it’s just that wisdom should be held on a higher level because wisdom brings these benefits: long life, happiness, honor and riches. (vs 16-18). An iPhone, sports car and jewels won’t bring a long life and will actually extract from your riches. But with wisdom, we can receive all these material things and more. The proverbs says, don’t get caught up on material things, wisdom is far more precious.
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