Wisdom is application

Manchester United, the team I support, won 3-2 on Saturday. I'm quite... pleased. About a week before that we lost 4-1 to our rivals Manchester City. Embarrassing. I was ready to leave and start watching golf. I felt that it was time to mature a bit. I complained about what needed to be added to and removed from the team. Sancho needed to cut in more and the wing back had to make more forward runs to fool the opposing right back. I have knowledge and understanding of the game but if you dropped me onto that pitch, I'd probably be stoned. The last time I touched a physical ball was like 5 years ago.

I lack wisdom in the game of football.

What is wisdom? This scripture is one of the purest demonstrations of wisdom in the Bible...

Exodus 31:1-5 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.

After that scripture, we see Bezalel in action. Acting upon the knowledge and understanding given to him. That's wisdom.

Wisdom is the physical manifestation of an understood concept (logos).

logos, (Greek: “word,” “reason,” or “plan”) - https://www.britannica.com/topic/logos

Wisdom is sometimes used as a synonym for knowledge and/or understanding. I think that's because you can't apply what you don't know and understand. For example, when someone says "I see their wisdom" after they've heard the person speak... they just heard their knowledge and understanding, they haven't seen them physically applying any of their knowledge. So wisdom, understanding and knowledge are almost one.

Proverbs 8:12 I, [godly] wisdom, reside with prudence [good judgment, moral courage and astute common sense], And I find knowledge and discretion.

Here's what I see as a purely wise quote...

"I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God?" - Thomas a Kempis

Mr. Kempis there is promoting action which is wisdom. His words are like Jesus' words. Straight to the point and piercing. Makes me want to fight him. Doctrine, philosophies and giftings help us avoid inner pain. Like the woman at the well in John 4 that kept changing the subject to theological debates. What deep emotional pain (that will cause negative actions in the future) am I avoiding that makes me want to fight Jesus and Mr. Kempis?

I know it but have failed to heal it so life moves on. At least it drives me to work hard. Pain is a fuel whose price will never rise!!!

Anyway...

I see the hierarchy as this... Wisdom (Application) > Understanding (Comprehension) > Knowledge (Information)

For example, if you went to a hospital for surgery and they told you that they were bringing a doctor that had just graduated from medical school and had never performed an operation, you may scream like an animal that's about to be slaughtered because you don't trust knowledge and understanding alone. However, if they brought a dude that didn't even have a nursery certificate but had successfully performed that operation 1000 times, you wouldn't be that uncomfortable. He would do it but not know a lot or completely understand what he was doing. You would still prefer someone that graduated from medical school and had successfully performed that operation 1000 times. That person would know what to do if something went wrong. Their understanding would adapt and shift according to the difficulty. Like if the patient's body rejected a transplanted organ.

In that same way, God doesn't trust knowledge and understanding alone.

Matthew 7:16-25 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.

Satan has a lot of knowledge and understanding of God's will but does he practice? No. Satan knows a lot of mysteries and can perform miracles too like Jannes and Jambres that withstood Moses in front of Pharaoh. Satan believes in God as well so he's not an atheist. Just unsubmitted to God's will i.e. he doesn't practice His will.

James 2:19-20 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

The difference between light and darkness isn't knowledge, understanding or power but obedience or disobedience to God who is love.

One of the first mentions of worship in the Bible isn't a song, dance or poem, it's an action of love towards God. It's an action saying "God, I put you first in my life." That action was Abraham taking his son up the mountain to sacrifice him. Obedience in the worst of circumstances.

Genesis 22:5-6 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together.

I've learnt that God doesn't care so much about a person's words as He does their actions.

Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: "These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men..."

We're taught to say "God, I put you first" in songs, hymns and all that but I think that God would prefer honesty. A patient that is dishonest or in denial will never seek a doctor.

An atheist could say they don't believe in Him. If most of their actions are in love, in my opinion, they would love God if they met Him. I don't think they're far from the kingdom.

Mark 12:32-34 “Right, Teacher,” the scribe replied. “You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him, and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, which is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

I believe that the kingdom is knowledge and understanding. Like someone could believe in reincarnation which is false in the kingdom (a person isn't born as a rabbit or something in the afterlife, according to the Bible) but they're loving so they're not far from the kingdom. In other words, they have the right foundation.

Jesus taught and preached on the kingdom of God.

Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God..."

The scriptures and the power of God were brought by Jews simply because God chose them. Probably because they were very weak. God usually chooses the weak and forsaken so no one can be puffed up above their fellow man.

Ezekiel 16:4-6 On the day of your birth [Israel] your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. No one cared enough for you to do even one of these things out of compassion for you. Instead, you were thrown out into the open field, because you were despised on the day of your birth. Then I passed by and saw you wallowing in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, ‘Live!’ There I said to you, ‘Live!’

In conclusion, like a patient on a hospital table, God can't trust us if we haven't applied His Word.

It's so fun to get new knowledge or new understanding on already possessed knowledge (which are an opportunity to boast) but I always have to remind myself that wisdom is the most important thing and most times wisdom is sweat. Putting in the work. Building a house, not just thinking it up or talking about it. It may not be as fun as new knowledge or new understanding but it feels so good because it's so meaningful. You become one with Him. The perfect idea manifesting in the flesh.