1. The source of knowledge is study. The source of wisdom is discernment.
People get knowledge either by reading, listening to lectures, or by training. Education primarily gives knowledge. Wisdom, on the other hand, is not obtained in this way. Did you ever notice that there are people who study a great deal but not have wisdom for they lack discernment?
2. Knowledge can be obtained by conversation, talk and consideration. Wisdom is more intuitive.
There are some people who are just naturally wise. They may not have a lot of education but we go to them for advise. There are people who are knowledgeable but no one would go to them and ask their opinion because they are lacking in wisdom.
3. Knowledge is generally theoretical. Wisdom is practical.
Knowledge is concerned about knowing things for the sake of knowing them. Wisdom is concerned about life and living.
4. Knowledge has the mind acting apart from the will. In wisdom, the mind is acting in subservience to the will.
It is tragic to be a walking encyclopedia but so lacking in wisdom. All that stored knowledge counts for nothing when it is not applied in life.
Now, I am not slamming knowledge. It isn't good to be lacking in knowledge. What I am saying is that knowledge alone does not make a wise person. This is how knowledge and wisdom work together : wisdom is the capacity to make use of the knowledge that you have and rightly apply it in life and and in work. Wisdom is knowledge fleshed out in living and in activity. It's "know-how".
It's helpful to clarify this because God himself is infinitely knowledgeable and wise.
"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!"
-Romans 11:33 (ESV)
He does not say, "ooops"! "God is too wise to be mistaken," so the song goes. God isn't just the God who knows everything but everything that he does is unfathomably wise. This means that his purposes, his plans, and his works are perfect.
God demonstrates his wisdom and knowledge visibly. His creation manifests his wisdom. He puts the galaxies, stars, and planets in their proper place. He made earth habitable for man and all living things. He designed all kinds of creatures, trees, and plants. His plan of redemption shows that indeed his judgments are inscrutable. How could a holy God reconcile rebellious men to himself? By giving himself through his Son who would take on flesh and dwell among men, live a perfect life, offer himself as the sacrifice of atonement on the cross, and be raised to life to show that he has power over death and is victorious over sin, and would reconcile men to God as they repent and put their faith in his Son.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
-Isaiah 11:1-2 (ESV)
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
-1 Corinthians 1:30 (ESV)
And more to the point in just how he is infinitely more wise and knowledgeable - though humanity has progressed, the wisdom of this world is foolish by comparison (1 Corinthians 1:20). God is so transcendent that his ways are unlike your ways and his thoughts are unlike your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). That is why in Proverbs you are urged to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).
God alone is wise and we can trust in him and rejoice in him at all times. Sometimes, it may seem as if he is hiding his hand and his path cannot be discerned. We may experience suffering and have trouble in this world, but in his wisdom, we can have confidence that he makes all things to work together for good (Romans 8:28). Nothing that happens in our lives is outside his purposes and his control. His understanding has no limit (Psalm 147:5) therefore he knows what he is doing. This is what makes him so glorious - because only he can bring good out of evil and turns beauty out of ashes.
More next time....
God alone is wise and we can trust in him and rejoice in him at all times. Sometimes, it may seem as if he is hiding his hand and his path cannot be discerned. We may experience suffering and have trouble in this world, but in his wisdom, we can have confidence that he makes all things to work together for good (Romans 8:28). Nothing that happens in our lives is outside his purposes and his control. His understanding has no limit (Psalm 147:5) therefore he knows what he is doing. This is what makes him so glorious - because only he can bring good out of evil and turns beauty out of ashes.
More next time....
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