Wisdom

What is wisdom? We hear people tell us how wise we are when we give advice. Or what a wise decision fast food restaurants made by creating a dollar menu. But what is real wisdom? In our world today, people get confused between being smart, and being wise. There are many, many smart people in this world. But considerably less wise people. The dictionary on my word processor defines smart as “showing intelligence and mental alertness.” Wise, on the other hand is defined: “able to make sensible decisions and judgments on the basis of personal knowledge and experience. Sensible, learned and shrewd.”
Now, besides the fact that this definition is considerably longer and with larger words, what’s the difference? The difference: I can sit up straight in class, listen politely, study hard and earn a good grade. I can follow the rules of success, earn a large salary, support my family, and have a good life. Or, I can sit up straight in class, listen politely, study hard and earn a good grade. I can discern when I should purchase a large yacht, and when I should pay tithe. I can determine when my children need to hear the score of the Sunday football game, and when they need to hear the word of God. I can sit up straight in church, and instead of smiling politely, I can have a determined frown on my face, writing down what the preacher says and studying over it. Being smart is knowing what the world knows. Being smart is taking the world’s words and teachings, and learning them. Being wise is knowing what God knows. Taking His words, and His teachings, and learning of Him. Anyone can be smart. Anyone can be wise. You just have to choose which one to be.