In times of stress, war, rebellion and personal danger, we can all see the value of wisdom. True wisdom. Throughout our years in school we digest a lot of facts and are exposed to a great deal of knowledge, but we know that wisdom is more than accumulating facts and figures. A popular definition of wisdom goes like this: “Wisdom is the ability to make appropriate use of knowledge.”

While the passing of years and the experiences gained therein often contribute to wisdom, old men are not always wise. For example, Solomon is said to have possessed a wisdom that “excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt,” 1 Kings 4:30. But, later in his life he wrote, “Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished,” Ecclesiastes 4:13.

By use of an acrostic, let us enumerate, examine and set forth some major qualities within true wisdom.

WILLING:
A wise person is one who realizes that important things are accomplished by those who are willing—willing to work, willing to “launch out into the deep,” when the occasion demands it, Luke 5:4.
Willing to be patient toward the weak, 1 Thessalonians 5:14; willing to study God’s Word and follow its every principle; willing to be an influence for good in “the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,” Philippians 2:15; willing to do what is right even if everyone else chooses the opposite.

INTEGRITY:
Webster says integrity is “fidelity to moral principles, honesty.” A wise person has integrity, not only because of its value in the marketplace and in the company of our peers, but because it is required by God, Ephesians 4:27-29. Without genuine integrity a person can never be wise.

SELF-EXAMINING:
Wisdom does not spend her time passing judgment upon others, recognizing one’s own flaws, Matthew 7:1-5. Instead, the wise will ever be evaluating self, refusing to allow sin and hypocrisy to discourage others, Matthew 23:14, Galatians 6:4. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves,” 2 Corinthians 13:5.

DISCERNING:
Solomon asked for “an understanding heart…that I may discern between good and bad,” 1 Kings 3:9. Any wise person will want to know the difference, because the “wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23. Such discernment is available for those “who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil,” Hebrews 5:14.

OPEN-MINDED:
Wisdom requires that one have a “ready mind,” Acts 17:11, but also use her discernment to screen out those things that would weaken or destroy. Someone has said that a mind that has no filtering agent is liable to allow almost anything to fall in. But, it is not wisdom to reject new ideas and current thoughts out of hand. The “old Jerusalem Gospel” will always be the benchmark—the “pattern,” Hebrews 8:5.—an open mind, using the “plumb-line” of God’s Word as the standard, can be an open door to new means of doing the tried and true ways to “seek and save the lost,” Luke 19:10.

MEEKNESS:
An oft-misunderstood term, meekness blends humility, courage, submission, gentleness and strength, and all combined with tenderness. The wise person will possess great vitality and power, yet will have those qualities under control. They will have great strength at hand, but will use that strength with gentleness, kindness and charity.

Each of these ingredients leads us to Psalms 111:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endures for ever.”

If you have knowledge, use wisdom in the exercise of that knowledge, and always honor the “wisdom that is from above,” James 3:17. Note the qualities God attributes to that wisdom: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

James 1:5 says that if you lack wisdom, you can ask of God. And in Psalm 19:7 we are told: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”

Looking for Wisdom? God has it and wants you to have it.

Carl B. Garner