Wisdom 101: Biblical Wisdom for Modern Living

We have more knowledge than at any other time in history. Knowledge is doubling every 12 hours, yet this doesn't mean the world has much wisdom.

Prov 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom... We need discernment - not all information is true - we can't always trust the “fact checkers”.

The Bible tells of wisdom - godly wisdom, which is from above, and so-called wisdom, from below – it is earthly, sensual, and devilish.

When we consume a food product we check the nutrition information. What of the products we're feeding our minds with? Is it wholesome? Is it a product good for me, for my children? Do we exercise discernment? Will that entertainment produce spiritual malnourishment? Could it lead to backsliding? Could it be damaging to my spiritual life?

Paul talks about godless philosophies and deceptions. Colossians 2:8, Beware lest anyone spoil you – take you captive - through philosophy and vain deceit… Godless philosophies hold people captive.

Some would shut God out of their thoughts. Their foolish hearts are darkened.

What the world counts as cool and smart is sometimes vain and empty. The media of our world is sick and rotten.

The Bible says set your affection on Heaven, not Hollywood; set your affection on things above.
This world treats modesty and purity as something they want to spoil and soil. Don't trash yourself, and dishonour your body. Don't believe the devil's lies. The world would say, just live for the moment; live recklessly, and loosely.

The world says, dull the mind. The Bible says, Be sober. Drunkenness is a sin. How do we avoid it? The best policy: don't touch the stuff. You will never become a drunk if you don't drink.

We have need of wisdom. What the world calls wisdom, God calls foolishness. This world denies absolute truth. It rejects God. Godless philosophies bring a spiritual emptiness. People sit, trance-like like, in front of the electronic mind altering devices that they call TVs.

God is the ultimate source of truth and authority. Here is true wisdom: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Lean not unto thine own understanding…

The god of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Rather than the emptiness of humanism, we can know God's truth that sets people free. There is a godly wisdom which is from above. By the glorious gospel - God's truth - we can be saved. James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. The Lord Jesus is the perfect expression of wisdom.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God… and it shall be given him. By God's wisdom we can know truth. Yè shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. We can know God's transforming power – the renewing of our minds – and find the wisdom we need to navigate life.

This world follows “cultural relativism” - the idea that moral standards are subjective. They're culturally determined. Yet, for a Bible-believer, it's not about conforming to the culture, it's not about fitting in. We’ve got life-changing truth. God's truth is unchanging. There's no updated, revised version. The shifting culture of the world doesn't determine truth, God does.

Modern media is constantly promoting ungodly philosophies and ideals. Movies feature witches, spells, magic, and spirits. Psalm 101:3 says, I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.

Worldly media routinely portrays masculinity as toxic men are feminised, not manly. While women wear the pants. Everything is topsy-turvy. We are in a battle of worldviews.

Learn not the way of the heathen. Love not the world.

Godless philosophies deny God's existence. The world’s messaging is a conditioning, a constant stream of foolishness.

We can know a sure source of Truth, unchanging truth, life-changing truth. Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding… JC Ryle said, “A man who is born again does not use the world’s opinion as his standard of right and wrong”. The world's opinion of right and wrong changes from time to time.

In our so-called Information Age we have dire need of wisdom. Timeless wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.

We can find true joy in knowing Him. Proverbs 3:13-14 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Let us make it our life mission, to seek Wisdom. Proverbs 2:1-5 …incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; … 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Rather than tune into the wavelength of the world may we choose that which would honour and please our Lord.