Proverbs: Knowledge and Wisdom

This past week, our Old Testament reading included Solomon's Proverbs. So, today, I'd like to talk about Wisdom and Knowledge.

The Bible tells us that Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, or who will ever live:

And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

The first time I read that, I rolled my eyes -- yeah right. But that was his reputation. Super wise, such that he attracted kings and queens to come visit.

The book of Proverbs talks about Wisdom. But it also talks about Understanding, which is sometimes used interchangeably with Knowledge. Solomon seems to place Wisdom first over everything else.

To me, Knowledge is facts. Like knowing 1 + 1 = 2. As a "scientist," actuary, programmer, mathematician, etc., I have a LOT of knowledge. I could explain a myriad of topics on statistics, probability, science, and math, where I see people struggling every day. But I find most of the time, others don't want to hear it.

This is where Wisdom comes in. You don't need to have Knowledge to be wise. You just have to simply learn to rely on the experience of others. You must realize that you are most likely wrong somewhere in your own belief system, and you should be willing to maintain an open mind so that you can happily receive correction.

Solomon goes through all this in his Proverbs. Check out these verses:

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. (Proverbs 9:8-9)

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. (Proverbs 3:13-15)

In other words, a wise person is not only willing, but actively seeks out Knowledge. And this Wisdom has much more value than silver, gold, and rubies.

I invite you to check out my post (or video) on Belief Systems in my "Always Be Better" series, where I go into more details about our belief systems. Near the end of the post -- I touch on how to constantly improve our own Knowledge.

But while Wisdom can give us great power of understanding, and lead to much success, there is one important thing to point out...

If Solomon was indeed the wisest person who ever lived and will ever live, it didn't seem to do him much good at the end. He allowed his wives to turn him toward idols. He then ended up losing most of Israel, and had many enemies. But the Bible is silent about his final state -- did he repent as his father did from his mistakes?

Either way, it seems that Wisdom, alone, is not enough. We must also remember Faith, Charity, Love, and all other good traits. From my own experience, the smarter and wiser I get, the more I come to realize what I don't know. No one person can know everything, so that's why we must rely on other tools in our own quests for salvation.