James 3:13
Knowledge is not a synonym of wisdom, just as strength is not a synonym of muscles or smiling a synonym of happiness.
A person’s mental capabilities can be considered as knowledge, wisdom, intelligence (I.Q.), and more recently added, emotional intelligence (E.Q. or E.I)
Knowledge is obtained primarily through your five senses. It comes to you by reading or watching videos, listening to teaching, touching the burner to learn its hot, smelling a flower to determine fragrance, or tasting the spaghetti sauce to see if it is bitter or sweet. Each result is filed in your data bank for future reference.
Wisdom is characterized more by your experiences and understanding the consequences of choices, comparing one scenario against another, and considering alternatives. It has nothing to do with what data you can recite.
Intelligence is mostly genetic. Wikipedia says, “intelligence is the capacity for abstraction, logic, understanding, and reasoning,” It is the ability you were born with to apply knowledge and skills to a given situation to determine outcomes. Some say you can measure your intelligence through tests. But let’s face it, people have a varied capacity for intelligence.
The concept of emotional intelligence was first popularized by author and psychologist Daniel Goleman. He wrote a best seller in 1995 titled “Emotional Intelligence, Why it Can Matter More Than I.Q.” Goleman defines it as the ability to recognize, understand and manage our own emotions, as well as to recognize, understand and influence the emotions of others. In short, it is what determines what our relationship with others will be like.
Let’s use all four of these concepts in a random task.
Suppose you are about to open a can of green beans. Intelligence says use the can opener. Knowledge tells you how to use the can opener and whether there are actually green beans in the can. Wisdom says that it is possible to get seriously cut by the can if you don’t keep your finger out of the way (and maybe canned green beans might not be as good for you as fresh). Emotional intelligence says if I do cut my finger, I can survive it with proper medical intervention and I don’t need to panic and dial 911. However, if blood is spurting all over the counter in copious amounts, you might consider making that call.
In James 3:13 it says – “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” Meekness is also described as gentleness and humility. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5. NKJV
But what does this really mean – the meekness of wisdom?
The truly wise person bears the likeness of Jesus - humility. When they share their convictions, it is in a gentle, though firm manner. They are sure of what they are talking about, but they don’t brag about it. They aren’t in your face forcing down your throat loudly all they know about a certain topic. You know when you are in the presence of true wisdom, you can feel it.
Wisdom includes many concepts, but it comes primarily from right thinking and true thoughts. Wisdom is never based in lies or crooked thoughts. And more importantly, it comes by the Holy Spirit. Only right and true come from God. Wrong and lies come from another source. “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” Proverbs 16:3. “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. . Length of days is in her (wisdom’s) right hand. In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness.” Proverbs 2: 13, 16-17.
The wisdom you have may or may not be true wisdom. How do you find out if you are wise?
The Bible says King Soloman was the wisest person on earth. (See I Kings 4:29-34) He asked God for wisdom, and it was given to him. In his book of Proverbs Chapter 1: 1-7, it is written:
These are the wise sayings of Solomon…written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it’s going; A manual for living, for learning what’s right and just and fair; to teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. There’s something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn, Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate….Start with God – the first step in learning is bowing down to God, only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.” (MSG)
In a nutshell, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom for those who know the KJV.
The book of Proverbs is written in such a way that it promotes clear thinking. As you read each verse, your frontal lobe gets exercised, stimulated, and conditioned in ways that will help all of your thought processes. Your frontal lobe controls your voluntary movement, expressive language, management of higher-level executive functions and cognitive skills including the capacity to plan, organize, initiate, self-monitor and control one's responses in order to achieve a goal. Who wouldn’t want all of that?
ACTION CHOICE: Make reading a chapter of Proverbs a daily practice. It has thirty-one chapters, one for each day of the month. You can read Proverbs chapter 12 on the date of the 12th of each month. It only takes a few minutes, and you will find something you need there to make it wisely and meekly through your day.
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