Trusting God’s Wisdom

Proverbs 16:22, “ Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that

hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.”
9 Qualities of Wisdom (And Why We Need It More Than Ever)

We live in an age where almost everything is a finger’s touch away. Consider this. Today, more
information is generated in ten minutes than all civilization from the beginning of time up to this
point. In some ways, this is good. But for all the answers at our fingertips, the Information Age
cannot answer most of the questions that matter.

Even though we’re swimming in a 24/7 stream of news and media, personalities and opinions, I
wonder if we’re not drowning, or on the verge of it? The constant barrage of information is
overwhelming most days. What’s legit? Is anyone reporting the truth? Who can I trust?
I’m not the only one overwhelmed. Statistics say we’re the most anxiety-plagued, depression-
ridden culture in the history of the world. We’re more informed, more educated than any culture
in the history of the world. But something is missing, something Google can’t answer and
universities can’t teach.

That something is wisdom.

Wisdom is the antidote to information overload, to an age of anxiety and insecurity. The Bible
speaks often about wisdom, and I believe wisdom is first and foremost from God. So, I want to
highlight a few ways to grow in wisdom, to move beyond mere knowledge and facts.

1. Accept uncertainty and unknown.

“When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;”
-Proverbs 2:10
thinking.

Wisdom isn’t about what you know. It’s about how you see. Wisdom happens when you take
knowledge and apply it to your life in a such a way that adds meaning and promotes the common
good.

Your mind collects, organizes, processes facts and information. But only the heart can handle
life’s paradoxes, things like love, death, suffering and God. Think about the first time you fell in
love. Explain the emotions you felt. Explain the rationale behind your actions? Don’t worry, I
can’t either.

Ever been in the waiting room when the doctor informs the family their son didn’t make it? I
have. Who in their right mind would attempt to fix this moment with logic?
What about God? A few nights ago, I tried explaining God to my boys. With every answer, they
became more confused. I mean, really, what make sense about a God who’s everywhere but also
inside us? What about a God who is three but also one?
Wise people don’t need to make sense of the world. They don’t need to be right. They accept the
uncertainty that is life.

To move beyond knowledge and information to wisdom, you must move beyond black and white

2. Seek humility, and embrace wonder.

“The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” -Proverbs
15:33

Here’s a first big separator of knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge alone puffs up (as Paul says in
1 Cor. 8:1). Enlightened people refuse to stand in awe of anything. Information says humility is
weakness. Wonder and reverence are like silly games children play.
You will never meet a wise person who isn’t humble. As you grow in wisdom, you grow in
reverence and awe, reminding you how little you know and how loving this Higher Power must
be.

3. Don’t be defined by success.

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let
him become a fool, that he may be wise.” -1 Corinthians 3:18

Thomas Merton once said we spend our whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find
the ladder leans against the wrong wall. There’s nothing inherently wrong with climbing ladders
of success. But you won’t find wisdom there. To use Richard Rohr’s words, “After the age of 30,
success has almost nothing to teach us.”
Even though I’m hardly on the other side of 30, I’ve found these words to be true. I learn much
more about myself from my mistakes or failures than my successes.

4. Accept the finality of life.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. “-Psalm 90:12

Death’s inevitability doesn’t strike fear in the hearts of the wise. Neither do wise people waste
energy fighting death.
Numbering your days gives you perspective, drive, and purpose. It challenges you to spend your
mist of an existence doing something that matters.

5. Value character over reputation.

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
-James 3:17

Wisdom from heaven has no agenda. Its only allegiance is to Truth. Its motives are pure, which is
the whole meaning of integrity. Wise people love peace.
Shalom is what we’re talking about here. Wholeness. Reconciliation. Unity. Peace isn’t passivity.
Wise people fight, but not with the world’s weapons. They fight with love. Wise people are
radically inclusive and obedient. They can forgive almost anyone for almost anything, even their
enemies.

6. Listen and ask questions.

“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. “
-Proverbs 19:20

Wisdom implies listening. I struggle with listening. I want to be heard. True sages (a mature or
venerable person of sound judgment) don’t struggle with this. They have much to learn, and they
realize you can’t learn with your mouth opening.

7. Grow in hope, regardless of what’s going on around you.

“17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;
18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope
of his calling, and what the riches of his inheritance in the saints,” -Ephesians 1:17–18

Wise people are always hopeful to a fault some might say. Why? Because hope isn’t
circumstantial. Hope is eternal which means nothing external alters it. This also means it’s ever-
growing because God is everlasting.
Hope separates knowledge from wisdom. Most knowledgeable, intellectual people aren’t hopeful.
If you look around, hope doesn’t make much sense. But when you look up, trusting an eternal
God, you realize hope is the only option.
Wise people always grow in hope because their hope is always in God.
If you’re not growing in hope, you’re not growing in wisdom.

8. Surround with hopeful, life-giving people.

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”
-Proverbs 13:20

The cliche “Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future” applies here. I’ve watched this
principle have its way with my life.Wise people surround themselves with life-giving voices,
people of integrity who live with passion and meaning.

9. Learn from the past, but never live there.

“Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou dost
not inquire wisely concerning this.” -Ecclesiastes 7:10

Wisdom doesn’t entertain nostalgia.

The past is for learning, not living.
Wise people remember and learn from the past. But they never live there.
Most people have these two backwards. This is the danger of knowledge. We dismiss history,
but we often live in the past.
This is why we’re desperate for wise people. Wisdom always move forward. Always.
Where will you place your trust today? Will you trust in the wisdom of fallible men and woman,
or will you place your faith in God’s perfect wisdom? When you decide whom to trust, you will
then know how best to respond to the challenges of the coming day.