Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding

 

By Andrea Merrell

Wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore get wisdom.

Proverbs 4:7 NKJV

“With all your education and degrees, you are one smart individual,” the boss said to his young employee. “But something is missing—the wisdom and understanding to put all that knowledge to good use.”

The difference between knowledge and wisdom can be confusing. Knowledge refers mainly to a gathering of facts, figures, and information by studying or life experience. Book learnin’, as my grandfather used to say. But what good is all that information if we don’t know how to put it into practice in our everyday lives?

The Bible has much to say about wisdom (especially Proverbs) and makes a clear distinction between earthly and godly. While the first stems from boasting, lying, jealousy, and selfish ambition (James 3:16), James explains the wisdom we are to seek is "first of all pure. It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere” (vs. 17 NLT). 

We all need to learn and grow. To study. To be informed, but let’s not forget that wisdom, knowledge, and understanding all work together—along with a dash of good old common sense. Where do we find such a combination? Only in God’s Word.

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Feed Your Faith

 

By Andrea Merrell

So then faith comes by hearing, 

and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

“You gotta have faith!” the speaker said emphatically. “You must believe that God will do what He says He will do.”

Afterward, my friend said to me, “Sometimes I don’t think I have any faith at all. My doubts seem to choke out what little is in me. What should I do?”

“Feed it,” I said.

She frowned. “And how exactly do I do that?”

The Bible tells us that faith comes by hearing. By hearing what? God’s Word. One of my former pastors used to say, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing, and hearing.”

We believe what we hear from friends and family. Even podcasts and news reports. The more we hear, the more encouraged—or discouraged—we become. It’s the same with the Word. The more we hear it, the more we believe it, and the greater our faith grows.

But listening to a sermon once or twice a week (or even less) will never be enough. Just like we feed our body, we need to feed our faith. And since we believe what we say most of all, the more we speak and confess the Word, the more our faith will flourish.

My friend finally got it. She began to put the Word in her mind, her mouth, her ears, and her heart. The transformation was amazing.

If you deal with doubt and unbelief, there’s only one sure cure: start feeding your faith a regular diet of the powerful, life-changing Word of God.

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash