Wisdom Defined

Wisdom Defined

Rich D. contacted me for my comment on “What is Wisdom?” My reply to him via email came back undeliverable, so I will post my reply here and trust that he will see it.

Rich D. was challenged by a “Deaconess” at his church to research the question, “What is Wisdom?” Rich is a born-again believer in Jesus Christ and has personally reached the following conclusion:

“True Wisdom is the Perception of truth; The ability to perceive TRUTH, about ourselves, Others, Life, the World, and God. Wisdom is the ability to view everything from God’s Perspective.”

Rich, I feel that you have a very good definition of Wisdom. I would add only two important ingredients: 1- reverence and 2- humble submission.

We must perceive everything from God’s perspective, as well as laying aside our ego and pride, to respect His authority over our lives as we submit to His direction and correction with the right attitude. We all know that we can acknowledge other’s views and disdain them as inferior to our own, while walking away to follow our own agenda. God doesn’t leave this option for us. When we truly see the events in our lives as God sees them, we fall in love with Him for His great mercy and grace that He even humbles Himself to allow us to feel His divine Presence. We separate ourselves from all that displeases Him, while we draw closer to Him with a joyful heart.

Dictionary.com defines wisdom as:

Insightfuloldman’s definition of Wisdom –

“Wisdom is revering the Lord and submitting yourself to His direction and correction, as you honestly confess your need for His fatherly counsel on a moment-by-moment basis. Wisdom is the proper application of His knowledge to the everyday situations in your life, seeking to please the one who loves you above all else.”

Cherokees –

The Cherokees say Peace is found in silence, and Wisdom is feeding the correct wolf.

Socrates –

Socrates said, “The only true wisdom is knowing that you know nothing.”

Persians –

A Persian proverb says, “He that knows and knows that he knows is wise, follow him.”

Confucius –

Confucius said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

Mother Teresa –

Mother Teresa said, “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

Billy Graham –

Billy Graham says, “Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent.”

Irish –

The Irish say, “You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.”

Malawians –

The Malawians say, “Little by little makes a bundle.” (pongono, pongono, ndi mtolo)

Jesus Christ –

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Solomon –

Solomon said, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

Prophet Micah –

Micah says it with more clarity, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” (Micah 6:8)

Rich D., I believe you have a very good handle on being a wise man. Proverbs 1:7, 23-33 show that reverencing God and obeying His teachings, while responding in humility to His corrections, guarantees Him making His words of knowledge known to us and that we will dwell in safety without fear of evil.

Thanks for sharing with me; and thanks for being a Christian desiring to know God more intimately. All the signs are pointing to His soon coming, and we will all need wisdom to deal with the difficult times coming to our country and the world. Peace…Jim Clonch-aka ‘Insightfuloldman’