proverbs

Wisdom

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Wisdom is “the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.” www.dictionary.com. Wisdom goes beyond knowing all the options available; it provides the ability to differentiate between the options and pick the best solution. In the Bible there are many things written about wisdom. In my personal study I have been looking at the books of Daniel and Proverbs which actually have a bit to say about wisdom.

Daniel and Wisdom

God gave Daniel wisdom.

“As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.” Daniel 1:17–20.

Again, when Daniel was older, we read how the people in the kingdom of Babylon remembered his wisdom. “The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, ‘O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.’ ” Daniel 5:10–12.

Did Daniel’s wisdom and intelligence come by chance? Daniel was not only wise in the things of God, he was wiser than all the wise men in Babylon. At this time Babylon was a world empire with the best and smartest people from all over the world. It is quite something that Daniel was wiser in all aspects of life than the wisest people on earth in the biggest empire at that time. This was because of God’s blessing.

“The case of Daniel was presented before me. Although he was a man of like passions with ourselves, the pen of inspiration presents him as a faultless character. His life is given us as a bright example of what man may become, even in this life, if he will make God his strength and wisely improve the opportunities and privileges within his reach. Daniel was an intellectual giant; yet he was continually seeking for greater knowledge, for higher attainments. Other young men had the same advantages; but they did not, like him, bend all their energies to seek wisdom—the knowledge of God as revealed in His word and in His works.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 569.

God wants people in the world today like Daniel who are wise and intelligent. “Many of our young men might today be intellectual giants, had they not been content to reach a low level. Those who do not love to study, are ever in great danger of becoming dwarfs in spiritual and mental growth. They consider that they have a moderate understanding of Scripture subjects, and they cease to investigate, cease to plow deep that they may obtain all the treasures of knowledge possible. Instead of cultivating studious habits, they yield to inclination, and are content to skim the surface, without going with energy to the bottom of the question under consideration. Those who have this superficial manner of study would not be prepared to meet an opponent in discussion should one oppose them. They penetrate only deep enough into a subject to meet the present emergency, and to conceal the real ignorance of their lazy minds. Gradually this course causes hesitancy, dwarfs the comprehension, and bars the way to successful effort.” The Review and Herald, April 6, 1886.

“But few reach what they might in excellence of character, because they do not make their aim high. Prosperity and happiness will never grow of their own accord. They are the acquisition of labor, the fruit of long cultivation.” This Day With God, 190.

“The Bible is the best book in the world for intellectual culture.” Reflecting Christ, 163.

“It is a law of the mind, that it will narrow or expand to the dimensions of the things with which it becomes familiar. The mental powers will surely become contracted, and will lose their ability to grasp the deep meanings of the word of God, unless they are put vigorously and persistently to the task of searching for truth. The mind will enlarge, if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture, and spiritual things with spiritual. Go below the surface; the richest treasures of thought are waiting for the skillful and diligent student.” The Review and Herald, July 17, 1888.

So many times when we look at the life of Daniel we focus on the fact that he ate good food. That is part of it and that is good. As you read the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy you realize that it was more than just eating right; it was God’s blessing and a balance of physical and mental work that enabled Daniel to have the wisdom that he did. There has to be balance in the physical, mental and spiritual in our lives. Daniel had this balance in his life which put him in a place where God could use him.

“Daniel and his companions had been faithfully instructed in the principles of the word of God. They had learned to sacrifice the earthly to the spiritual, to seek the highest good. And they reaped the reward. Their habits of temperance and their sense of responsibility as representatives of God called to noblest development the powers of body, mind, and soul. At the end of their training, in their examination with other candidates for the honors of the kingdom, there was ‘found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.’ Daniel 1:19.” Education, 55. [Emphasis supplied.]

If you want to be balanced mentally, you need to be balanced spiritually and physically. One cannot just work the mind. The body also needs exercise and communion with our Father in Heaven.

“We are to learn how to equalize the labor done by brain, bone, and muscle. If you put to task the faculties of the mind, loading them with heavy burdens, while you leave the muscles unexercised, this course will tell its story just as surely as the wise course of the Hebrew youth told its story. Parents should follow a consistent course in the education of their children. Our youth should be taught from their very childhood how to exercise the body and the mind proportionately. It is not wise to send the children to schools where they are subject to long hours of confinement and where they will gain no knowledge of what healthful living means. Place them under the tuition of those who respect the body and treat it with consideration.” The Review and Herald, February 10, 1910. [Emphasis supplied.]

“Right physical habits promote mental superiority. Intellectual power, physical strength, and longevity, depend upon immutable laws.” Our High Calling, 269.

God gave Daniel wisdom, but Daniel put effort into gaining wisdom. Daniel had a balance in his life between the mental and physical.

The Book of Proverbs and Wisdom

Proverbs tells us where wisdom comes from. It says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. See Proverbs 1:7; 2:6; 9:10, 11.

Solomon tells us that wisdom is a valuable thing to have. “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.” Proverbs 3:13–18.

The book of Proverbs gives us lots of characteristics of wise people. Here are a few:

  • Wise people receive instruction and reproof—Proverbs 9:8, 9; 10:8; 15:31–33.
  • Wise people listen to counsel—Proverbs 12:15; 13:10.
  • Wise people are humble—Proverbs 11:2.
  • Winning a soul is wise—Proverbs 11:30.
  • Wise people study how to speak to others wisely—Proverbs 12:18; 14:3; 16:23; Ecclesiastes 10:12.
  • Wise people speak of knowledge—Proverbs 10:31; 15:2, 7.
  • If you associate with the wise you will be wise—Proverbs 13:20.
  • Wise people seek knowledge and understanding—Proverbs 14:33; 18:15; 22:17.
  • Reproof gives wisdom to a child—Proverbs 29:15–17.

Worldly Wisdom vs. God’s Wisdom

Paul talks about wisdom of this world versus God’s wisdom. “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” I Corinthians 1:20–30.

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” I Corinthians 3:18, 19. To the world, Christianity is not wise but foolishness. The things that God tells us to do in the Bible sound crazy from a worldly point of view. I mean, give up everything to gain everything sounds pretty strange by worldly standards. As humans we have a tendency to think that we are wise. The wise, men in Daniel’s day claimed to be wise but when it came down to it, the God in Heaven had all the wisdom and the wise men didn’t have answers.

Human wisdom and engineering is not always wisdom. Sometimes the greatest achievements that man in his wisdom thinks are wise, turn out to be disastrous. I took a class when I was going to the University about engineering ethics. In this class we had many examples of engineering mistakes that had cost the lives of a lot of people. We think that we are so smart with all of our technology but, in fact, we make many mistakes in judgment before we get things engineered right. We need to realize that the only true wisdom comes from the Source of wisdom, and that is God. The wisdom of this world has many times turned out to be false.

When I was in college a teacher asked the question, “How do you know what is right or wrong? Who defines what is right or wrong?” He had a point that if you don’t believe in a God of all wisdom who has defined right and wrong, how do you know what is right? In the Bible there is wisdom that tells us what is right and what is wrong. Today, society really doesn’t know the difference. The other day I heard someone who was a polygamist saying that if a homosexual person can be married, why is it illegal for a polygamist to be married to more than one person? If you don’t have a Bible that tells you what is right and wrong in regard to marriage, that man would have a point. Worldly wisdom does not have the answers for hard moral questions, but the Bible does.

“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” I Corinthians 2:6–8. The Christian religion is the wisest religion to be a part of because we serve the God of all wisdom.

Wisdom is something that we all need to know to deal with people, problems, situations, and to know what is the right moral thing to do in a situation. Wisdom will keep us from evil. The Bible is full of wisdom. The book with special tips on wisdom is Proverbs. God’s wisdom sounds like foolishness to the world, just like it did in Noah’s day. God needs wise people who are willing to expand their intellect as Daniel did. Wisdom can also help to exert a powerful influence in the world as Daniel and his friends were able to in the kingdom of Babylon.

A network engineer, Jana Grosboll lives in Derby, Kansas. She may be contacted by email at: janawwjd@yahoo.com.

A Bear Robbed of Her Cubs

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“Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.” Proverbs 17:12 NKJV.

A few years ago we were visiting the home of a friend and noticed a most interesting poster on the wall depicting the truth that is expressed in this verse. As you can imagine, it caught the attention of our young children; and they stood for some time studying it. We discussed it at the time. As time passed, however, I did not think much more about it.

In our family worship, we often read the chapter from Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month. Some time later, when in our worship we again read this verse, events that we had recently experienced had so shaped our thinking that the verse took on new meaning for us; and we were reminded of the poster that we had seen some time before. As we reflected on the significance of the wise man’s words, we began to realize that they have a depth of meaning beyond what words can adequately express. This text of Scripture has caused me to ask the Lord to deliver me from the folly of the fool! Before we can be delivered from the folly of fools, we must, of course, have first had folly taken out of our own hearts.

The events that prepared us to better appreciate the meaning of this warning began during a visit to Yellowstone Park a few months ago. While looking for a book to buy the children, I became interested in one about bears. We bought the book and began reading it during our evening worships. We prefaced our reading with Proverbs 17:12. The children, of course, wanted to know what a “fool in his folly” is.

Before they could fully understand the danger involved in the situation, they needed to more fully understand the significance of the term, a bear robbed of her cubs. One story entitled, “A Mother’s Revenge” particularly caught my attention. Although this was not necessarily the most thrilling of the bear stories, it did make the point; and I would like to briefly share it with you.

In 1907, in the virgin forest of northwest Montana, a mother bear and her cub were preparing for winter. Unbeknownst to them, a small government survey team, accompanied by some adventurous tourists, was packing into this uninhabited region. The area was a section of high and rugged mountain peaks, snowfields, and living glaciers, wholly uninhabited except by the wild animals and well-nigh inaccessible save in the dead of winter. Soon after the party arrived, bad weather set in, making survey work impossible. The inactivity soon prompted the suggestion of a hunt, but only two hardy souls were interested. These two men, both experienced hunters, set out from camp with their horses and guns, little dreaming of the adventure that awaited them.

The men traveled some distance by horseback to a glacier, where they left their horses at the head of the basis. At this point, they separated, Mr. Stiles going one direction and Dr. Penrose another. Mr. Stiles soon spotted a buck dear and began stalking it when he heard three shots in rapid succession. Paying no special attention to the reports which came from the other side of the ridge, he was about to shoot the deer when he heard two more shots, rapidly followed by a third. Immediately becoming alarmed, he ran back in the direction of the shots. Within a few minutes he came around a mass of broken boulders and saw Dr. Penrose wandering aimlessly around in the canyon bed without his gun. His hat was gone, his coat torn off, and his trousers rent. Blood poured from his head and neck, and he gripped his left arm in his crimson right hand, presenting a horrible sight. As Mr. Stiles approached him, he murmured piteously, “Water, water.” As he tried to drink the water, part of it ran out through a gash in his cheek. He then said: “Stiles, I am all in; I have had a fight with a bear.”

As the story unfolded, it revealed that Dr. Penrose had come upon a young grizzly cub. Being late in the year, the cub was large enough that it appeared full-grown, to all but the careful observer. Dr. Penrose’s first three shots had killed the cub; and in his excitement, he failed to note that it was a cub that he had killed. Having laid his gun aside, he was bending over the young bear that he had so recently killed when suddenly, not more than sixty feet behind him, the doctor heard a cry of anger as the grief-stricken and enraged mother bear rushed forward to avenge the death of her offspring.

Turning, with almost superhuman presence of mind, Dr. Penrose caught up his rifle again and fired two shots into the enraged beast. Rapidly removing his last cartridge from his pocket, he worked it into the rifle and sent a third steel-jacketed bullet into the on-rushing bear. Swift and sure as were the little bullets, the bear continued her charge, her fury unchecked. With one stroke of her paw she sent him into the gulch, eight feet below. Springing down after him, she caught him in her mouth and shook him as a cat might shake a mouse, before dropping him. Again she caught him up, this time by his face, narrowly missing his eyes but tearing his cheek and throat wide open. There were five gaping wounds in his chest. His thigh was torn, the flesh handing in ragged pieces, and his left wrist was twisted and broken. Before she could again shake her half-dead victim, the mother bear staggered, and falling dead at his feet. In spite of the terrible beating that he had taken, Dr. Penrose did survive, though he spent several months recuperating from the attack.

The purpose of recounting this event is to bring home the point that, as terrible as is the wrath of a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs, it is not so much to be feared as is a fool in his deceit.

Solomon also tells us “the folly of fools is deceit.” Proverbs 14:8. As severely as Dr. Penrose was mauled by the enraged mother bear, he did live; but those who are taken with a fool in his folly, do not fare so well. The Lord has warned us, “A companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20. As you are confidently passing along the road of life, you need to be aware that lurking not far from you, possibly just around the next corner, is a secret and hidden enemy, far more dangerous than an angered mother bear, and that enemy is deceit.

False Friends More to be Feared than Open Enemies

In all of the stories of angry bears, we found them to be an aggressive and open enemy. Far less to be feared is an enemy who openly seeks to destroy you than one who professes friendship, flattering with his lips, but in whose heart is hatred. The Bible describes what this secret enemy is like. “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” Proverbs 20:19. “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; when he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.” Proverbs 26:22–28.

Friend, a direct command from God cannot be disobeyed without terrible results, and the command is “meddle not with him.”

“It is not the open and avowed enemies of the cause of God that are most to be feared. Those who . . . come with smooth words and fair speeches, apparently seeking for friendly alliance with God’s children, have greater power to deceive. Against such every soul should be on the alert, lest some carefully concealed and masterly snare take him unaware.” Prophets and Kings, 570, 571.

“Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.” “Speak not in the ears of a fool.” Proverbs 14:7; 23:9.

In our family worship, we made a list of the texts that were descriptive of a fool in his folly, describing his deceit. It would be well for all of us to keep these words of wisdom in mind. Here is a partial list from the book of Proverbs:

 

  • Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 1:7

 

  • Fools hate knowledge. 1:22

 

  • He that hides hatred with lying lips, and who utters slander is a fool. 10:18.

 

  • It is a sport to a fool to do mischief. 10:23.

 

  • The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. 12:15.

 

  • A fool’s wrath is presently known. 12:16.

 

  • A fool lays open, or reveals, his folly. 13:16.

 

  • A foolish woman plucketh down her house with her hands. 14:1.

 

  • In the mouth of the fool is a rod of pride. 14:3.

 

  • The folly of fools is deceit. 14:8.

 

  • Fools make a mock at sin. 14:9.

 

  • The fool rageth and is confident. 14:16.

 

  • A fool despiseth his father’s instruction. 15:5.

 

  • A foolish man despiseth his mother. 15:20.

 

  • A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. 17:10.

 

  • The eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 17:24.

 

  • A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 18:6.

 

  • A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 18:7.

 

  • He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. 18:13.

 

  • Every fool will be starting a quarrel. 20:3.

 

  • A foolish man spends up the treasure. 21:20.

 

  • A fool returns to his folly as a dog returns to his vomit. 26:11.

 

  • A fool uttereth all his mind, but a wise man keepeth it till afterward. 29:11.

 

After you have thoughtfully considered the traits of a fool, as the Lord has identified them for us, remember the seriousness of the matter. The wise man was not given to making an exaggerated statement when he warned us that a furious mother bear was less to be feared than the deceit of a fool. It is well summed up in this verse. “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” Proverbs 14:15.

We need to keep ever before our minds that the One Who counseled us to be harmless as doves also admonished us to be as wise as serpents. (See Matthew 10:16.) We would do well to remember that “those in the synagogue of Satan will profess to be converted, and unless God’s servants have keen eyesight, they will not discern the working of the power of darkness.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 281. How said it is that so often “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:8.

Friends, if we are simple minded we are liable to be destroyed, because someone will come to you with fair words, concealing the hatred that is hidden in the heart. That, friends, is deceit and is more dangerous than an open enemy. That which appears to be a comparatively small snake is, in reality, worse than a dragon.

“Infidelity in many specious forms will have to be met. Satan works under disguise, and it will require a well-trained mind, sharpened by divine enlightenment, to meet his wily devices.” Signs of the Times, October 24, 1900. We can be so thankful that the Lord has not left us to our own demise. He has promised to help the simple minded. Proverbs 1:4 tells us that if we listen to His words, they will “give subtlety to the simple.” What a fabulous promise. Even fools can become wise. “O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.” Proverbs 8:5.

The terrible truth of the power of deceitful subtlety is found in the history of Adam and Eve.

“If he [Satan] should come boldly upon Adam and Eve and make complaints of God’s own Son, they would not listen to him for a moment but would be prepared for such an attack. Should he seek to intimidate them because of his power, so recently an angel in high authority, he could accomplish nothing. He decided that cunning and deceit would do what might, or force, could not.” The Story of Redemption, 29.

In the passage of time, Satan has lost none of his cunning and deceitfulness. Those of God’s people whom he can not destroy through an open, frontal attack he is often successful in overthrowing by deceitfulness. As you study the book of Proverbs, you can readily see that there are several tell-tale signs that deceit may be being used.

Twelve Ways to Know a Fool

In closing, I would like to summarize twelve character traits that quickly reveal to us, regardless of profession, that a person is a fool.

  • He indulges in flattery.

 

  • A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct.

 

  • He has a quick, or uncontrolled temper.

 

  • He mocks at making amends for sin.

 

  • He refuses to listen to his parents.

 

  • He is talkative, speaking all of his mind.

 

  • He does not listen to reproof.

 

  • He is contentious and quarrelsome.

 

  • He is arrogant.

 

  • He spends all that he has, often living beyond his means.

 

  • He is quick to answer, without pausing to give a thought-out reply.

 

  • He is a talebearer, or gossip.

Trials Alone Will not Save Us

We all face many trials; but trials, in and of themselves, will not save us; otherwise, the whole world would be saved. “Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.” Proverbs 27:22. NKJV. Though we may lack wisdom, our condition does not have to remain such, for we have been promised, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5. We must, however, submit our wills to God’s will in every matter of life; for “all who do not earnestly search the Scriptures and submit every desire and purpose of life to that unerring test, all who do not seek God in prayer for a knowledge of His will, will surely wander from the right path and fall under the deception of Satan.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 192.

If we do this, determining to do nothing that will dishonor our Lord, He will gently reprove our wrongs and change us into His image. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17.

The time in which we are living is a momentous one, weighed with eternal consequences. The rapidly unfolding events in the world speak eloquently to the shortness of time. Now is the time that we must remedy the defects of our character, becoming wise in the wisdom of the Lord, lest we stumble and fall amidst the trials and temptations of the last days. “At the time of the Loud Cry of the Third Angel, those who have been in any measure blinded by the enemy, who have not fully recovered themselves from the snare of Satan, will be in peril, because it will be difficult for them to discern the light from heaven, and they will be inclined to accept falsehood. Their erroneous experience will color their thoughts, their decisions, their propositions, their counsels. The evidences that God has given will be no evidence to those who have blinded their eyes by choosing darkness. After rejecting light, they will originate theories which they will call ‘light,’ but which the Lord calls, ‘Sparks of their own kindling,’ by which they will direct their steps.” Review and Herald, December 13, 1892.