Knowledge and Wisdom

Knowledge is when we’re aware of some piece of information about something or someone.

That piece of information may be truthful, or it may not be but that doesn’t stop us from knowing that piece of information.

Quite often, our certainty of the truth or untruth of a piece of knowledge is determined by the source of that knowledge.

Knowledge that comes to us from today’s popular media or social media has become so corrupted that many thinking people’s default position is to instantly doubt its truthfulness.

We humans are not that silly that we would believe the knowledge that comes from a science fiction story, something like Star Wars, is true and correct, but what is the ingredient that human beings use to determine that the knowledge they receive is truth or a fairy tale?

We’re living in the “information age”.  We can get information on almost anything at the click of a mouse. Many people who are skilled at using Google, social media, or Siri to amass knowledge seem to be woefully lacking at making that knowledge bring peace and joy to their lives.

Knowledge by itself is like a wall made of bricks stacked one on top of each other that will topple at the slightest pressure unless those bricks are sealed one to the other with mortar.

The mortar that seals our knowledge together, the ingredient that brings knowledge together to where it’s valuable and meaningful is WISDOM.

One powerful authority can be completely relied on to explain wisdom.

Proverbs chapter 1 of the Old Testament of the Bible was written by King Solomon about 700 BC.

King Solomon is reputed to be one of the wisest of all human beings and as such was one of the wealthiest if not the wealthiest human ever to have lived.

His wisdom was sought after near and far and under his rule ancient Israel gained its highest splendour and wealth during Solomon’s reign of 40 years.

In a single year, according to 1 Kings 10:14, Solomon collected tribute amounting to 666 talents (18,125 kilograms) of gold. At the current gold price of $59,372.78 USD that would be a mind-boggling value of $1,076,131,637.5 or over 1.5 billion dollars Australian!

Is there anyone alive today that could match the wisdom of Solomon?

The purpose of King Solomon’s proverbs was to

• To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; Proverbs 1:2
• To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; Proverbs 1:3
• To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. Proverbs 1:4
• A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: Proverbs 1:5
• To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. Proverbs 1:6
• And here’s by far the most important one. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

Why is it that so many people today, even amongst professing Christians, often misunderstand, misquote, or misuse verses in the Bible?

For example, we may turn to a concordance to find a verse on a particular subject. We read the ones suggested, find a favourite one, and then start quoting away!

Or we hear others misquoting verses, and they sort of sound right at that moment, so we also begin spreading the misuse without taking the time to study the verse in the context it was intended.

People clobber each other with Bible verses as a way to prove some point or other about politics, social or other issues instead of taking the time to let its truth actually transform their lives. Too often, it results in a drastic and tragic distortion of what God intended the Bible to be for us.

Additionally, it certainly does not give hope to the precious people out there who are wondering whether God, Jesus Christ and the bible may just possibly be the answer in this insane world.

The sixty-six books that make up our Bible were inspired and authored by the Holy Spirit of God using 40 human instruments. Orthodox Christianity believes that the Scriptures in their original manuscripts are without error and fault.

This Bible is not merely a collection of quotes or one-liners but is literally the Word of God.

When the Scriptures speak, God is speaking! That is why the Bible should be approached with extreme care and reverence. How it’s read, memorised, and quoted is very important.

Here’s a list of a few misused and abused Bible verses:

Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Taken out of context, this verse is often used as a foundation for business success, being the best at your chosen sport, transforming from being out of condition to a muscle-bound beauty or winning the lottery.

In Context, the Apostle Paul is under house arrest awaiting his trial, where he may possibly be put to death for preaching the resurrection of Jesus.

However, instead of being defeated by unfortunate circumstances, Paul is using this opportunity to teach the young church in Philippi that he can endure any and every circumstance—ups and downs, highs, and lows—because he has a strength that only comes from Christ.

This supernatural strength to endure all seasons and situations is always with Paul because the Holy Spirit of Christ is always with him, even in prison.

Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Out of context, this verse is often used when there is low attendance for church or prayer meetings.

In context, this verse applies to church discipline when dealing with wayward believers.

It is meant to be an encouragement to church leaders during the tough times of loving confrontation.  It means that God will be present with the two to three witnesses as they try to correct and restore a fallen brother or sister.

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Out of context, this verse is often given to someone as a means of uplifting them during a difficult time, or after they’ve received some sort of success in life.

Taken as a stand-alone verse it seems like a promise from God to say that He exists to make us all popular, rich, healthy, and well-received! It’s as if God declares us worldly winners in this life!

In context, this incredible promise is given not given to an individual.

It’s given to a nation of people, the Hebrews who were exiled in Babylon.

In reading the whole chapter we see that God promised that He had not given up on His people and that even though things looked dire, they still had a future and a hope!

The word “prosper” doesn’t refer to money or material blessings; it refers to physical and spiritual salvation. It’s a beautiful promise that God is not done with His people and that their future and hope are only found in Him.

The promise is that He will see His plans through, and His people (and we are His people) get to be a part of those plans.

Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

Out of context, this verse seems to validate the “age of tolerance “that we live in. It’s an age wherein the world believes we must tolerate the other person even though they may hold hideous views and perform actions that threaten our peace and joy.

We’re all so tolerant until, of course, someone disagrees with our beliefs, lifestyles, or opinions; then, we’re extremely intolerant!

We may yell “You’re not God, you can’t judge me!”

In context, this verse is not a warning against speaking out against certain actions or behaviours. It is not a command to be tolerant of all and every Godless activity.

In Mathew 7:15 – 20 and other places we’re told, “we’ll know them by their fruit”. We are also to discern, or prove, the things that are excellent; that we may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Philippians 1:10.

Matthew 7 is a warning against self-righteousness and hypocrisy.

If we’re going to correct someone, then we must expect to be held to the same standard. If we judge with aggression, then we can expect to be judged with aggression.

Even though we remove the plank in our eye, Jesus still says we must remove the speck in our brother’s.

Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!”

Out of context, the most common misuse of this verse is that only a piece of it is ever quoted.

A portion of this verse appears so often on coffee cups, on memes with lovely landscapes as a background, and even on tee shirts, you’ll see a section of this verse, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

In context, the greatest power of this verse is when this verse is read fully. It’s an incredible comfort when we’re reminded that we can be still and know that God is in control.

As His people, we can rest in the truth that He will be exalted in the nations across the earth, and there is nothing, no political, military or any other human force that can stop God from accomplishing His will.

Revelation 7:1 – “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree”

Out of context, this verse has been used to try and prove anything from a flat earth to a square-shaped universe. Similar attempts are made of Revelation 20:8, and Isaiah 11:12

In context, the use of the number four is an obvious connection between the four angels, the four corners of the earth and the four cardinal points of the compass from which the winds are about to blow: North, South, East, and West. “The four corners of the earth” is an expression that is widely used in different languages, but always with the same meaning: to indicate the farthest points on earth or a great distance, not literal corners.

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish”

Out of context, it’s often used by “vision casting” preachers that say that God gives them special visions that everyone else should follow.

It can also be used to make people think that whatever idea they have in their head must be a vision from God, and that idea (or “vision”) is what keeps them alive. This is usually a spiritualised version of a business or success teaching that encourages people to be focused and excited about their long-term business goals. It’s that enthusiasm that produces positive results.

In context, this again is only half the verse. Here’s the whole verse: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

This verse is really about people casting off the restraint of God’s Word (His revelation or prophetic vision); which is contrasted against those who are blessed because they keep the law (or listen to God’s Word).

Isaiah 40:22 – “It is He who sits on the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in;”

Out of context, this verse has also been used to somehow show that the earth is flat and is supported on foundations within a circle. It is also used to make cases for both a young earth and an old earth and various other scientific justifications.

In context, this incredible verse is God speaking through the prophet Isaiah about how vast and awe-inspiring He is and how there’s no picture you can paint or figure that you can carve in a likeness of Him.

The point of the “circle of the earth” passage is that God is far above all the petty affairs of little humankind. He’s not troubled by them, and He can bring them to an end at any time and He can protect and strengthen His people.

Rather than being a source of secret scientific knowledge or a point of contention between young earth and old earth proponents, the verse is supposed to be a comfort to God’s people as they contemplate the greatness and the creative power of God, as Isaiah 40:1 says, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” The comfort is found in the content of Isaiah 40 and on almost every page of the bible.

There are many other verses and biblical concepts used today that are different when viewed in the context of the whole Word. The fantastic thing about it is that usually when the whole context is understood it’s much more incredible.

Everything God does and says has a purpose and every word in Scripture is founded on that purpose and is placed in the specific context that He desires. Therefore, we must be careful with the Word of God and be sure in how we interpret and speak this Word!

Most of the confusion and error around the Word could be instantly eliminated by reading the whole story.
If we were reading a novel, say a mystery story, how much would we know of the whole story if we just took a few one-liners from here and there and tried to form a mental picture of the story from those snippets?
Yet sadly, this is how many people approach the most important story of all history.

2 Timothy 3:16 – 17 tells us “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 2:14 says, “Put them in memory of these things, charging them before the Lord not to dispute about words to no profit, to the subverting of the hearers. This verse in the ERV version says it like this, “Keep on telling everyone these truths. And warn them before God not to argue about words. Such arguments don’t help anyone, and they ruin those who listen to them. “

Also, in 2 Timothy 2:15 we hear,” Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” Again, the ERV says it like this, “Do your best to be the kind of person God will accept and give yourself to him. Be a worker who has no reason to be ashamed of his work, one who applies the true teaching in the right way.”

And in 2 Timothy 2:16, “But shun profane, vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” And, in the ERV version, “Stay away from people who talk about useless things that are not from God. That kind of talk will lead a person more and more against God.”

And what about 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions”.

Let’s ask the Lord to guard us against false teaching and silly distortions of His precious Word.

May His Word take up residence in our hearts and help us not to wander, but to live in the power of the Holy Spirit each day.

May His Spirit convict and enable us to live by faith by correctly dividing His Word of truth for as Pro 4:20 says, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.