What Is Biblical Wisdom? From Knowing to Doing

What Is Wisdom?

People want to be viewed as smart. Intellectually gifted people may often be confused with wise people. The dictionary offers several words that are synonyms for wisdom: insight, judgment, and knowledge. We may find ourselves jealous of someone else's intelligence or insight. But what do they do with it? If they use it to brag about their intellectual prowess or argue they are always right, then we have nothing to be jealous of. Knowledge tells us what we know. Biblical wisdom tells us what to do with what we know. There is One who embodies true wisdom.

Jesus was wise. We are told this in Mark 6:2,

"And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!"

Christ Is the Wisdom of God

Indeed, "What wisdom is this?" Paul takes this even further when he calls Christ “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). He also tells us that Christ “became for us wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Our wisdom, then, is not simply about learning to make better decisions. True wisdom and understanding ultimately comes from Christ, and as we grow in Him, His wisdom should become evident in how we live. As Christians, we are expected to be wise.

What Is Biblical Wisdom?

So what is biblical wisdom? James 3:13-18 explains it well. The Greek word James used for wisdom was sophia. This is not just intellectual knowledge; it is the practical application, the "doing" as it were, of a meek and humble mind.

James contrasts this with those who are bitterly envious and self-seeking. These things bring confusion and evil. If wisdom presents itself in these negative ways, then James actually calls it "demonic." That kind of pseudo-wisdom comes not from God, but the devil. So what does godly wisdom look like? The truly wise according to James don't brag and they understand what truth really is. This wisdom God desires for us has a starting point.

Wisdom Begins with the Fear of the Lord

Godly wisdom we are told begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). To fear God does not simply mean to be afraid of Him. It means to recognize who He is, to stand in awe of Him, and to respect His authority over our lives. When we truly fear the Lord, we understand that His wisdom is greater than our own, and we become willing to listen, accept correction, and obey what He teaches us. A person who thinks they know better than God has not yet learned the beginning of wisdom. Our actions are evidence of our wisdom, or lack of it.

What Does Godly Wisdom Look Like?

According to James wisdom is: "pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." Much like Paul's list of the fruits of the spirit, the truly wise person has grown in faith through the power of the Holy Spirit to display characteristics that show love to others. We need to be willing to yield. Are we merciful? Our goal as wise disciples is to speak gently to people without showing partiality. Christians are often accused of hypocrisy. Is that a fair accusation?

This wisdom should not only be evident in how we treat other Christians. It should also be evident in how we live before the world. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:15-16 and Colossians 4:5 that how we act towards those outside of the church, how we walk in our Christian life, should display wisdom. If we are walking in demonic wisdom, bragging, being envious and self seeking, then we aren't offering the world anything different. They already have that kind of wisdom. Christian wisdom should be different: humble, kind, merciful, and peaceful.

Let's take a moment and talk more about humility. To many people today humility is not considered a virtue. The modern world is all about boasting of our accomplishments, making sure people see and recognize our worth. But James says the wise man is humble. That person is self-assured but not arrogant. That person takes correction. That person doesn't show favoritism to someone who might be of benefit to them.

How Do We Gain Wisdom?

So what should I do to gain wisdom? James has the answer. Ask God in faith believing for wisdom and He will give it to you (James 1:5-6). Maybe you have never considered yourself wise. Maybe you have wanted wisdom so that you can make better choices and help those who ask for it in a better way. Maybe your own life has been a series of unwise decisions and you would like to find a happier, more joy filled path. Trust God. Prayerfully, as we age we grow in wisdom. Yet having wisdom and living wisely aren't automatically the same thing, consider Solomon.

Solomon and the Consequences of Unwise Choices

Most of us have heard the story of Solomon in 1 Kings 3 praying for wisdom, which God granted him. But then strangely we see Solomon did not always follow wisdom's call. His involvement with many foreign women and their worship practices was evidence of this. If God grants our request it is up to us to use the gift we have asked for.

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes of his struggles with the meaning of life. He looks back over a life not always guided by wisdom and finds the only thing that truly brings meaning: "remember now your Creator in the days of your youth" (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Solomon lived an amazing life, but not a perfect one. His unwise choices contributed to the Kingdom of Israel becoming divided after his death. There are always consequences to our actions.

When Wisdom Acts

And what of today's wise men and women? Are the wise the people we watch on YouTube who seem to have all the answers? We can even find ourselves pretending to be wise, expounding on a topic we know very well, but all the time being unable to take correction when someone points out an error in our thinking.

Jesus often shared His wisdom through stories of everyday life He told the people. Through these parables He unveiled biblical wisdom and truth. If you have ever had a grandparent share wise stories with you about "back in the day" you may be able to relate in a small way to how the disciples were able to grasp the wisdom of Jesus. And when they couldn't, He would gently explain it to them.

The truly wise individual gently reproves, humbly informs, and righteously acts. They don't need to prove they are the smartest person in the room because their lives demonstrate what they know. People can recognize their humility when they interact with others.

The Wisdom of Proverbs

Proverbs gives us many examples of wisdom in action. In Proverbs 29:11 it says, "A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back." Contrary to popular belief, sharing exactly how you feel is not wise.

Proverbs 13:10, probably my favorite advice on wisdom, it says, "By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom." Here he means simply that when we are unable to take advice and always think we're right it causes conflict. It's okay to know things, but we have to have the humility to admit we may not know it all. The qualities Proverbs describes are also easy to recognize in a good fictional character.

Samwise: A Picture of Wisdom

In popular culture my favorite wise character is Samwise Gamgee from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Samwise is Frodo's best friend while Frodo is the main character. Samwise is the wise, faithful, strong, stabilizing influence throughout the books. He is the humblest of characters. He chooses love and refuses to be corrupted by possessing the power of the ring. He is loyal to Frodo and chooses mercy instead of revenge. Perhaps you are like Samwise.

Are You Growing in Wisdom?

In your life do you know anyone wise? Do you know anyone like Samwise Gamgee who puts others first and brings order to chaos? We all need godly wisdom and we all need to have someone in our lives who has it. Pray that you might be that source of wisdom for those around you. Pray that you help point them to the Savior who loves them above all else. Wisdom isn't proven by what we know, but by whom we resemble. May our lives, quietly and humbly, begin to look like His.