Knowledge Without Wisdom

In these days of abundant information and user friendly technology, knowledge is easily attained on any number of subjects.  The internet is a vast source of information and contains instruction on subjects ranging from destructive evils to knowing a holy and righteous God.  You can find recipes for chocolate chip cookies as well as an explosive device.  

This information is kind of like a modern version of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil but it’s not exactly.  Even the good side of the tree in the garden contained death, but in one respect the good knowledge we have at our fingertips can be deadly if not instructed by wisdom.  Wisdom uses knowledge rightly.  Having knowledge without the wisdom to use it in a proper way can result in much harm, even disaster.  We see many people that know how to fire a weapon but lack the wisdom to know when and where to fire it.  Wisdom comes with practice coupled with humility.  To be teachable one must be humble and able to admit they have weakness.  

The bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  When we fear the Lord we will value what He values and use knowledge accordingly.  It is amazing to see the breakthroughs that have been made in medical science yet in some cases the knowledge that has been gained is used to violate the purposes of God.  In more and more instances knowledge and technology is used by man to overrule what before was left to the providence of God.  Too often human knowledge is exalted above the knowledge of God and is actually worshiped.  

A while back on a TV program some guys were modifying cars in very strange ways.  They took two identical front wheel drive cars and cut them in half just behind the front doors and then fastened the two ends together.  The finished product was a weird car that had two front ends and could be driven in either direction.  At the end of their stunt they showed that if both drivers wanted to go forward at the same time the car would actually pull apart dropping the back parts onto a caster wheel.  It was kind of interesting and eye catching but it was not very practical and just looked weird.  Hey these guys were having a lot of fun with the knowledge and skills they possessed but what they produced was not legal for the real road. 

In a similar way knowledge and great skills that lack the direction of wisdom can produce some amazing things but are just weird in the real world.  But wouldn’t you know it, weird is becoming the new normal at least we are being told it’s normal.  Knowledge is like a huge storehouse of parts and pieces to life that are becoming available to many but fewer and fewer really know where the parts fit.  In fact the idea of a big bang occurring that resulted in the orderly designs we see in the earth is the result of refusing the truth while looking for the answer.  When we refuse the truth we have no other option but a lie.  In a sense the lack of acknowledging the existence of an intelligent designer and creator has given way to a lot of just plain tinkering with things.

Without acknowledging God as creator and the source of all knowledge and wisdom man is left adrift on a sea of utter foolishness.  The scripture says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Without wisdom all knowledge will become as dangerous as matches in the hands of children.  The further we get away from God the more likely we are to burn down our own house so to speak.  The only way to preserve knowledge and wisdom is to give credit where credit is due.  Man thinks he is the one who has made all these things and doesn’t acknowledge God as the giver of every good gift.  Every talent and every intellectual ability mankind has is a gift from God.  Our continued refusal to give Him the credit and the glory will result in another dark age.

King Nebuchadnezzar lost sight of God as the one who made man and gave him an intellect greater than all creation.  Since Nebuchadnezzar insisted that everything in his kingdom existed because of his great power and understanding God had to send him to school in the cow pasture.  For seven years he was banished to live with the cattle and wild beasts of the field.  His intellect was reduced to that of a cow and he ate grass for seven long years.  At the end of that season the bible says his senses began to return and he once again had knowledge and understanding.  As a result he failed not to give God glory but honored Him as the one who made man and gave him everything he has including all his abilities.

I pray that we as a society will not have go through such an ordeal but instead turn and give God glory.  For it is He that has made all things and He is the one who holds everything in His hands even our very breath.

The bible says that the wisdom of God is viewed by man as foolishness while God’s own fooling around is much wiser than man.  Human wisdom can appear remarkable but in God’s eyes it is futile.  In these days of great distress and trouble on every hand let us seek after the wisdom that is from above.  God sees our situation from a greater vantage point than we do and we need His divine intervention.  Though things in the financial realm appear to be beyond repair God has a plan.  The same is true in every area of life, be it family relationships or health conditions He not only has what is needed but He is wisdom in person and we need Him.  So call upon Him today in the name which is above every name, the Lord Jesus Christ.