Wisdom Vrs Knowledge Series

We have at our disposal today more knowledge than at any time in history. More information has been produced in the last thirty years than in the previous five thousand. Today information doubles every four years. Knowledge alone isn’t enough.: Did you know ...

--that only two people in Saudi Arabia subscribe to Surfer magazine?

--that Iceland consumes more Coca-Cola per person than any other country in the world?

--that Heinz ketchup, poured from the mouth of an upended bottle, travels at an average speed of 25 miles per year?

Now we certainly have more information, but just knowing doesn’t mean you know what to do with what you know! The real problem is that most people have no idea what true wisdom is. And they settle for a wisdom that is not wise is at all. In fact, earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

MORE KNOWLEDGE AND LESS WISDOM THAN EVER BEFORE

Our world has plenty of knowledge and education, but not much wisdom.

Wisdom can often be learned from the fairly uneducated. Take children for instance.

Patrick, age 10 “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”

Michael, age 14 “When your dad is mad and asks you, ‘Do I look stupid?’ don’t answer him.” Michael also said, “Never tell your mom her diet’s not working.”

• Randy, 9 years “Stay away from prunes.”

• Lauren, age 9 “Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick.”

Joel, 10 years old “Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat.” and

• Eileen, age 8 says, “Never try to baptize a cat.”

JON RANDLE: Who know where we are going/not building foundations/trend driven society

13 Who among you is wise and understanding?

Sophos-applied living/ skilled tradesman

There are many who think they have all the answers. - advice columns - self-help books - day-time television talk shows and radio programs - counseling and therapy clinics in this country in the last twenty years. OPRAH - There are just multitudes of individuals who regard themselves as endowed with the ability or qualified to share there wisdom and understanding.

Wisdom is not merely a matter of the head. It is rather a matter of the heart and of our behavior.

Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.” Immanuel Kant

Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.,.

The person who is really wise we’ll show that wisdom by the way he lives his life. Your lifestyle will be the leading indicator of the level of your wisdom.

Depending on the kind of lifestyle a person has, you can make an accurate judgment concerning the kind of wisdom they have -- whether it is the wisdom that comes from God or the wisdom that is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

James has already told us how we can get this true wisdom, which is from God.

James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." The place to begin is to ask.

But the real question is how can you put true wisdom into practice in your daily life?

To put true heavenly wisdom into practice you must do some things.

Repent of sin and walk in purity. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure,

God is interested in our character. (not earthly, natural, demonic) LIT ‘free of contamination’

Proverbs 15:26 "The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him." He is holy, and he desires for us to be holy as well.

You must repent of sin in order to walk in purity.

Repentance means a change of mind. Everywhere in Scripture it fundamentally means a change of mind. Some people believe that repentance means a change in behavior. It does not.

Ultimately it results in a change of behavior because when our minds change our behavior follows.

Behavior can be altered to suit a particular situation and not be a reflection of how we truly think. Everyone knows how to be on his or her best behavior when the situation requires it.

God does not want us to merely act holy, he wants us to be holy and this requires true repentance

Refuse jealousy and pursue peace. then peaceable(not bitter jealousy)

Heavenly wisdom is also peace-loving. Lit ‘restore break’

Proverbs 20:3 "Foolish people are always fighting, but avoiding quarrels will bring you honor."