Today I want to talk about wisdom. The way the Scriptures talk about wisdom is that there are two kinds of wisdom. There is the wisdom of the world, which is the one that is really not true wisdom, and then there is the wisdom of the Lord.

The difference is in where the wisdom comes from and on what that wisdom is based. The first is based on one's own experience and one's own mind. It looks at the world and tries to figure things out on its own. It uses reason and logic to work things out. It will look to certain people that it deems worthy of respect and honor.

For example, a person who wants to be wise about money and uses the wisdom off the world, will look to someone like Donald Trump or Bill Gates. A person who wants wisdom on how to raise children will look to someone who has either done a good job at raising their own children or someone who has written a book on the subject. A person who wants wisdom concerning how the world began will look at secular science textbooks and consult evolutionists.

The second one will look to the world for wisdom, but only through the eyes of Scripture. For instance, I might read a book by Dr. Phil on how to lose weight, but if Dr. Phil tells me to go into a trance and pray to Buddha or to take illegal drugs, I will know not to follow his worldly wisdom. If I want to earn a living through investing in real estate, Donald Trump might be just the right guy to learn from, yet I am not going to use his advice if he tells me to stab my neighbor in the back or cheat in some way.

The very simple premise here is that if you are going to have true wisdom it has to come from the right source. King Solomon is still considered to be one of the wisest and most well known kings.

In today's world he would be the richest and most successful person in the world. From where did he get his wisdom? Did he pick it up on his own? Did he learn it from someone who wrote a book on the subject? No. He got his wisdom from God. When contemplating his kingship, God came to him and told him to ask for anything he wanted. He could have asked for all the riches of the world. He could have asked for fame and power. Instead, he asked the Lord to give him the wisdom he needed to govern the Israelites in a God pleasing manner. Still today the legend of his wisdom surpasses everyone else.

In Solomon's book to us, Proverbs, he tells us all about true wisdom. One of my favorite verse in al of Scripture is Proverbs 9:10 where Solomon tells us that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." I love this verse because it sums up in one sentence how we are to gain wisdom.

Some of the wisest people I have known were not wise by human standards. By that I mean that they didn't have all the money in the world, they weren't the most intelligent, or the fastest, or the coolest, they were and still are those who fear the Lord. They took the Lord seriously. They took the Lord at His Word. They had a holy fear that could be seen in the way they acted, how they gave to the Lord, and especially in how they loved the Lord by loving the people around them. They studied the Scriptures as much as they could. They worshiped the Lord as much as they were able. They totally sought the Lord and His holy will in very part of their lives.

The best part of these holy people is that they were able to see that they were not perfect but that they truly needed a Savior. They knew that, if it were up to them, they would be lost and condemned forever. Therefore, when they realize their sins they are able to go before Almighty God with all humility and ask for forgiveness. Then, in their wisdom, because they know what the Lord has done through his Son Jesus Christ, they are able to live in peace knowing that their sins are forgiven.

Are you following God's wisdom or are you aimlessly and hopelessly following the wisdom of the world? Do you earnestly and honestly want to have true wisdom or do you just want the kind of wisdom that suits you and your fancies? Remember again and once for all what the wisest man of all time said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". Study God's Word. Know the truth of the Scriptures. Keep the Word of God as your only rule and norm for faith and life and you will get the wisdom of the Lord.