In my personal study of the concept of wisdom, I was surprised how often the Scriptures address wisdom and the wise and the foolish. I have not tried to count the references precisely, but there are several hundred.

The Biblical books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes focus heavily on wisdom and living life wisely. But passages about wisdom are found throughout the entire Bible.

How should we understand the concept of wisdom? Where does it fit in the framework of right and wrong or sin and holiness? If a choice we make is not sin as defined by God, does that mean it is wise? Can we chose foolishly and not violate God’s holiness?

John Lightfoot (English Bible scholar and commentator in the 1600’s) makes this observation about wisdom:

“While ‘sophia’ is the insight into the true nature of things, ‘phronesis’ is the ability to discern modes of action with a view to their results; while ‘sophia’ is theoretical, ‘phronesis’ is practical.”

Wisdom is the ability to discern. It is possessing a realistic insight into life and the world around us.

But insight alone does not impact results in life. Wisdom is not effective until it is applied to real life situations.

The Book of Proverbs contains both lengthy instructions and short maxims built around the theme of wisdom. Wisdom personified is portrayed as crying out in the streets, in the chief place of concourse and in the gate openings of the city. Wisdom then asks how long will the simple ones love simplicity, how long will the mockers delight in mockery and the fools hate knowledge? Wisdom says that she has called and she has reached out her hand, but no one paid attention. Because none gave attention to her, she will laugh at their calamity, fear and destruction. They ignored her pleas and they will have to eat the fruit of their own choices.

While some of the examples of wisdom in the Proverbs are clearly sin issues, such as the young man seduced by the harlot, many other of the proverbs do not appear to be matters of sinfulness, but rather choices that lead to unpleasant or undesirable consequences.

For example, Prov.11:15 states, “He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it.” In today’s language that would likely be similar to signing a loan with a stranger. We may end up paying the loan because we signed on as a guarantor of the loan.

And we read of the sluggard that won’t plow because it is cold, but then he becomes a beggar at harvest because of his failure to be timely in planting a crop. Prov. 20:4

Or, “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.” Prov.21:17

Some proverbs seem almost amusing. “It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.” Prov.21:9

Many of the proverbs are observations about choices and consequences. The choices may not always lead to the identified consequences, but by observing life it can be concluded that very often unwise choices do lead to undesirable ends.

Wisdom, at least in some applications, intersects life at a place where the primary question is not, “Is it sin?” but rather, “Is it wise?”.

Who does Wisdom speak to? Western society has a very strong bent towards individualism. We don’t always appreciate others giving us advice. We often want the liberty to make our choices without interference from others.

One of the proverbs states that in the multitude of counselors there is safety. This proverb is recognizing the value of the viewpoint of others. Viewpoints that have emerged from life experiences and observations. Not all old people are wise and not all youth are unwise, but as a general principle those who have experienced more life also have more wisdom to share.

How does the issue of wisdom play out in the life of the church? Sometimes Christians get hung up on the question, “Is it sin?” and forget to ask, “Is it wise?”.
Choices always have consequences. Paths lead to destinations.

How should we approach the principle of wisdom in the church? How do we incorporate the safety that comes from many counselors?

Possibly, in the more conservative settings of the church, there has been, at times, an effort to prescribe life for church members in such a detailed way that the underlying truths of the Scripture are effectively blurred or muted. It is tempting to react so strongly to that experience that we no longer want to hear counsel. We want to figure out life by ourself. But, isn’t that exactly what the proverbs warn against.

I was reading a few months ago from a Church of the Nazerene document titled, “How Shall We Live as Christians?” It was addressing issues such as marriage and divorce, abortion, drug abuse, and alcohol and tobacco. On the issue of alcohol they presented this statement:

The use of alcoholic beverages has caused tremendous destruction, death, and despair to millions of people ranging from unborn babies to the aged. Therefore, we protest by abstaining from the use of alcoholic beverages.

This seems to be a good example of applying wisdom in the context of our current society.

There are many life issues where we cannot draw a line and say this is sin and this is not sin. But experience and wisdom and the Holy Spirit would tell us that there are spiritual realities imbedded in these issues. There indeed may be serious spiritual consequences that are experienced from choices that are unwise. A path chosen will lead us somewhere. “Somewhere” may turn out to be a place of pain and regret.

Can we welcome the voices of wisdom in our midst? Are such issues as technology, entertainment, sports among many others immune from the voice of wisdom? Resting on rules alone may actually silence the voice of wisdom. How can we encourage and nurture a robust environment where the voice of wisdom is appreciated and sought after?