I just read an interesting quote (attributed to Bruce Dunlevie of Benchmark Capital.)

Good judgment comes from experience, but experience comes from bad judgment

It sounds a bit like the new graduate seeking employment. Getting a job is the way to get experience but you need experience to get the job. (Equals frustration)

But I think I agree with the quote. What do you think?

• Is this a true statement?
• How does “good judgment” relate to wisdom?
• Should we attempt to judge poorly so that we will attain good judgment?

Understanding is the word describing that comprehension of facts. I have knowledge of some facts about the “Dyson Air Multiplier” device but I do not understand it. I read that it is related to the “airfoil” effect that causes an airplane to “lift” but I don’t understand that either! (For more about these concepts check out this link.) If someone DOES comprehend these facts, we would say that they UNDERSTAND the concept. (Click on the image to read more about “Bloom’s revised taxomony” and the order of thinking skills.)

But knowing the facts – even understanding them – still does not equate to wisdom. My dad (no formal education) used to describe some person as, “He has a lot of book learnin’ but he has no horse sense.” Dad knew that the accumulation of facts (knowledge or “book learnin’) and even understanding those facts does NOT mean that a person has wisdom (“horse sense” in my dad’s lingo.)

So what ELSE is needed in order to have wisdom? Leave a comment to tell us what YOU think.

It appears to me that the basic “building block” in the process of developing wisdom is knowledge. The definition of knowledge is still being debated. However, to establish some point of reference and enable the present discussion (of developing wisdom), I will offer my simple definition:

Knowledge – the accumulation of facts.

But even that simple definition is ambiguous. Who defines a “fact”? (See the philosophical debate at   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge#Defining_knowledge_.28philosophy.29.) Still, some things must be accepted if we are ever to move beyond the status quo.

Knowledge is what most schools teach. Teachers & textbooks provide the facts and students are expected to memorize them. A test is given to determine whether the child can repeat the facts as they were given.

What is missing in this scenario? Leave a comment and tell us what YOU think is needed to move from knowledge to wisdom?

There are several related words that are involved in the process of acquiring wisdom. I would like to hear your ideas about how these words relate to each other:

Pr 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

• Knowledge
• Understanding

• Sound Judgment
• Discernment

Other words that may also be involved:

• Counsel
• Insight

Leave a comment and tell us what you think about the process. I have given some starter questions but do not limit your responses to these – you may suggest other words, questions or ideas. Tell us…

• Is there an ORDER (process) to the development of wisdom?
• If wisdom is the primary thing (Pr 4:7), then which of these words/concepts PRECEDE wisdom?
• Do any of the concepts build upon others? Is there a SEQUENCE to them?
• Are any of these concepts REQUIRED in order for one to acquire wisdom? If so, which?
• Do any of these words actually MEAN THE SAME as wisdom?
• Are any of these concepts in OPPOSITION to the development of wisdom?.

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In the Bible, and in much of the secular world, Solomon is recognized as having possessed wisdom beyond that of any other man who ever lived. In 1 Chronicles 1:7 (NIV) God spoke to Solomon in a dream and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” When Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge (v.10) God was pleased and granted his request.

So, instantly, Solomon became the wisest and most knowledgeable man on the earth - NOT! In verse 12 God said, “therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you.” Notice the FUTURE TENSE “will be given.”

Someone once said, “As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools.” How many kids (including me) have wasted their time and then prayed that God would give them instantaneous knowledge to pass a test? But knowledge is almost always acquired through experience and education (study).

Likewise, there is NO INSTANT WISDOM. God promised Solomon that he would acquire great knowledge and have the wisdom to use it. However, God did not specify the means by which Solomon would become wise. God also assured Solomon that He would give him “wealth, riches and honor” but these were not apparent when Solomon awoke from his dream either. Verse 14 says that “Solomon accumulated chariots and horses.” It is only reasonable that Solomon received all of the things God promised (including wisdom and knowledge) – over time and with some effort on Solomon’s part.

In the original Hebrew, the word which our modern Bibles translate as “wisdom” (“chokmah” – Strong’s #02451) is generally defined as “skill.” It is used to describe how craftsmen built the objects of the temple, etc. This same word is also used to describe shrewdness. That is NOT what Godly wisdom is all about. In his own right, Solomon became shrewd and skilled at getting what he wanted. However, earthly wisdom and Godly wisdom are not the same (James 3:13-18).

Solomon wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes to explain how he acquired wisdom. In Chapter 1, verses 12-18, he said,

Ecc 1:12-1813  I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men!  14  I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.  15  What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.  16  I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.”  17  Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.  18  For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.

Notice the particular phrases “under heaven” and “under the sun.” These phrases describe how Solomon (and mankind in general) saw things. (Compare how God must see things, from beyond the sun.) Everything “under the sun” – even wisdom & knowledge – was “meaningless, a chasing after the wind” and ended in sorrow and grief.

In the first eleven chapters of Ecclesiastes, Solomon recounted his many years of trying to understand the world and acquire wisdom (cf. 1:17). He tried pleasure (2:1), alcohol (2:3), community service (2:4), possessions (2:7,8) and a wide array of sexual “delights” (2:8). Solomon said that he did whatever he desired (2:10) and the book describes these escapades in some detail.

Solomon actively studied wisdom – how it is acquired and the resulting value (2:12-16). He even dedicated chapter 7 of the book to the praise of wisdom. However, he realized that both the fool and the wise man die. Therefore, Solomon decided (from his human perspective of things seen “under the sun”)…

Ecc 2:15 Then I thought in my heart, “The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?” I said in my heart, “This too is meaningless.”

If Solomon was so wise, why did he make so many bad decisions? Interestingly, in Ecc 2:9, Solomon said that while he was making all of his ungodly and unwise decisions, “In all this my wisdom stayed with me.” Notice, it was HIS wisdom – not God’s – that guided his decisions.

In Ecclesiastes 11:5 Solomon started seeing things from God’s perspective. He realized that man (if unaided by Godly wisdom) “cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” And in 12:9-14 he concluded that, rather than to “follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see” (11:9), real wisdom is to “Fear God and keep his commandments” (12:13) while we are young (12:1).

Although that serves well as an overall religious definition, we still need a good WORKING definition of wisdom.

Like the old “serial” programs on the radio & early TV, “Tune in next week to find out if Lucy is killed by the train – or if by some miracle, she survives!” Well, you get the idea.. we will have the definition soon…

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In the last post, I asked about the word, counsel. The word counsel is used for the advice that one person gives to another.

A related definition is that of an advocate. An advocate or  lawyer (AKA, counselor) gives (legal) advice and advocates for his or her client.

So, counsel (advice) is not what we normally call wisdom. However, it is what we generally ask of God when we are facing a difficult decision. We may pray, “God give me wisdom,” but what we really want is for God to give us advice about how we should decide a matter.

Still looking for a working definition for wisdom? It is coming soon. Keep reading…

When we face difficult choices, Christians should always seek God’s counsel. But is “counsel” the same as “wisdom”?

1. If not, what is the difference?
2. How do you define wisdom?

No Pixie Dust

All of us want to have (& use) wisdom. Many Christians quote the Bible at James 1:5 and believe that God will just impart a special gift of wisdom. At that point, they assume that they will somehow become wise and will make the right decision about whatever they are debating.

But Godly Wisdom is not acquired by waiting until God sprinkles some “wisdom dust” on our head. A proper understanding of ANY Scripture requires that one consider the context – not just quote a single verse.

This website is all about resolving the conflicting ideas of how we acquire wisdom. Further, we intend to offer brief notes about learning from our experiences and the process of putting our knowledge into practice.

Check all the posts to get the entire story….