Whenever Christian communities, preachers and so called evangelists, talk about wisdom. They talk about wisdom as if it is the knowledge of God. If you have knowledge about Godly things, then they say you are wise. But, if you are smart in your job, earn more money, be successful in your job, then they say its all worldly. Is that the way The Bible talks about wisdom? Is it true that only the knowledge of god is wisdom? Let's find out.
When King Solomon asked for wisdom, to whom did he ask? what type of wisdom he asked for? what type of wisdom was given to him and by whom?
'That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” '2 Chronicles 1:7 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/2CH.1.7
'Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” ' 2 Chronicles 1:10 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/2CH.1.10
'God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.” ' 2 Chronicles 1:11-12 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/2CH.1.11-12
When God answered Solomon's prayer and gave whatever he wanted, what type of wisdom was that? Was that a spiritual wisdom as our religious groups say? Certainly not. It was a worldly wisdom. Because he was a king, he wanted wisdom to govern his people.
The Bible describes two types of wisdom. One is the wisdom that helps us to understand the world better. Let's name that wisdom as Worldly Wisdom. The other wisdom that The Bible talks about is the wisdom to understand God. Let's name that wisdom as Spiritual Wisdom. Interestingly, both types of wisdom are given by God.
The classical example of Worldly Wisdom is the one the King Solomon was given. Another example that talks about this type of wisdom is...
'Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. ' Proverbs 28:26 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/PRO.28.26
Our religious group made it look like this verse talks about Spiritual Wisdom. Does it say that? No.
Let's see examples that talk about the Spiritual Wisdom.
'so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. ' 1 Corinthians 2:5 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/1CO.2.5
'We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ' 1 Corinthians 2:6 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/1CO.2.6
'There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord . ' Proverbs 21:30 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/PRO.21.30
In the above verses and such versus throughout The Bible, the Worldly Wisdom is compared with the Spiritual Wisdom, a wisdom that helps to understand God and is depicted as an inferior wisdom. It is because the above versus are all relative statements comparing Spiritual Wisdom insisting that the Worldly Wisdom can not be used to know God. This does not mean that we do not need Worldly Wisdom at all. Because, as mentioned earlier and in the case of King Solomon, the Worldly Wisdom was also given by God. If you are going to say that you can acquire Worldly Wisdom on your own and you do not require God, then that's dangerous. Even, Worldly Wisdom should be acquired from God.
In James 3: 13 - 17, The Bible talks about another two types of wisdom. One is earthly wisdom that does not come from heaven and the other one is heavenly wisdom.
'Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ' James 3:13-17 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/JAS.3.13-17
In this case, the distinction is made with regard to the good life and deeds; Not as the knowledge of God. Just because, it comes from heaven, it is termed as heavenly wisdom, which is what I have named it as Worldly Wisdom; Earthly deeds but from God. That is why they are good deeds "...first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. ' Proverbs 3:5 https://my.bible.com/bible/100/PRO.3.5
People have taken this verse and interpreted it as if it says that we should not use our brains. It simply means that we should not lean on our wisdom without God rather we should get the Worldly Wisdom from God as King Solomon did.
Is it possible to do things without God. That is how people do, including so called "religious people". They say they are religious but they run their life using their own wisdom and not the Worldly Wisdom from God. It is because of the wrong teaching by the christian preachers that wisdom is something spiritual, only to know God. If we are going to run our life without receiving the Worldly Wisdom from God as King Solomon did, it is going to be the hard way and without peace. Most of the people in this world live this way. As Christians, God promises peace if we rely on the Worldly Wisdom that He gives. Then, it becomes easy way up and with ultimate peace. That is why Jesus said...
'I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. ' John 15:5 https://my.bible.com/bible/100/JHN.15.5
Our preachers have taken this verse and made a negative impact on the society. saying that we should not have Worldly Wisdom. But, if you read the verse properly, it is clear that these people have read it with religious glasses.
'But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ' 1 Corinthians 1:27 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/1CO.1.27
In this verse, it says that God shame the wise by choosing foolish things. How did He do that? Did He use foolish things as such to shame the world or did He convert the foolish things wise and then shamed the world? To answer my question, just go back a verse before.
'Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ' 1 Corinthians 1:26 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/1CO.1.26
You can clearly see that the statements are in past tense. "...Not many of you were wise...", meaning they are wise now; "...not many were influential...", meaning they are influential now; "...not many were of noble birth", meaning they are as if they were of noble birth.
So, my point is that God chooses foolish people, make them wise and shame the world. He does not shame the world by using foolish people as such, as our preachers teach. To make us wise, influential and as if of noble birth, He takes us through various ways in our life. That is why we are supposed to follow God's guidance instead of relying on our own understanding or our own will. Ultimately, it will all make us successful people.
Take Moses's life for an example. He was born in a Hebrew family. God chose him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. But, how did he do? He took him out of the slavery crowd first. Because, they have been slaves for about 400 years, they will certainly have slavery mentality. So, if God let Moses to stay with them, Moses would not have come to stage where he can lead such a massive crowd out of Egypt. That too, fighting with such as powerful empire, a super power of that age.
Secondly, it would require exceptional administrative skills to administer such a people in thousands. That is why, God took him to the palace, where he can acquire the Worldly Wisdom. Even in the palace, he excelled because of God's guidance.
Why didn't God teach administrative skills keeping him with Hebrews? He does not do that way as our religious group preach. He takes us through the ways in which we will acquire Worldly Wisdom so that we will be successful.