“…if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding,” (Proverbs 2:1-6).

We all have varying gifts, and from the time I was a very young girl, it was evident that the Lord blessed me with a strong intellect. I’m not boasting of this but simply stating that learning new things comes easily for me. Therefore, I excel in the areas of academics and critical thinking. However, common sense isn’t often my strong suit.

I have several humbling stories I could share that demonstrate this. However, my most recent debacle involved my dishwasher. One day, it just stopped working, and a light was flashing on the panel. After finding and quickly skimming the operation manual, I learned the recommendation for the issue was to call a technician to assess the problem. Thank you so much, manual.

Therefore, I did the next logical step; I Googled how to fix a dishwasher with a blinking light. I followed a step-by-step DIY video indicating how to take apart the bottom of the dishwasher and clean everything out to unclog any debris that could be clogging the drain line. Not having the best tools for the job but determined to do it anyway, I finally finished the process about two hours later. Thankfully, the dishwasher started working again the next day.

Fast forward a few days later, and the dishwasher light was not only blinking again, but also had copious amounts of bubbles leaking from the sides and bottom of the unit. Therefore, I shut off the breaker, cleaned up the mess, and called an appliance technician.

The next week, the technician came, and I told him about the issues with the dishwasher. He asked if I had changed detergents, and I told him I always do depending on which is cheapest at the store. I pulled out what I had been using the last few weeks. He looked at the bottle and then looked at me questioningly. Then, he slowly said, “That’s a bottle of Palmolive dish soap. You’re not supposed to use that in a dishwasher. It’s hand soap, like Dawn. You only use it when you hand wash your dishes.”

When I bought the dish soap, I didn’t pay much attention. It was sitting next to the dish detergent at the store, so I grabbed it without reading the label. Needless to say, I felt like an idiot. He told me to do two or three vinegar washes, instructed me to make sure the label says “dishwasher detergent” in the future, and charged me a $130 diagnostic fee. No common sense indeed!

While my intellect was put into question that day, I did gain something positive, wisdom. I guarantee I will not be making the same mistake again! “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom,” (Proverbs 11:2).

While being smart and wise are both aspects of intelligence, they also differ. An Internet search explains the contrast as follows: “Smartness often refers to the ability to quickly acquire and process information, excel in academic settings, and solve problems efficiently. Wisdom, on the other hand, emphasizes the application of knowledge, good judgment, and the ability to make sound decisions, often based on experience and a deeper understanding of situations and people.” 

I’m grateful to be book smart, but I could use a bit more common sense at times. However, wisdom is an attribute that I truly aspire to attain. I think most people hope for this as well. The Bible is full of passages praising wise individuals and highlighting the importance of wisdom and discernment in life.

A Wise Woman

(2 Samuel 20:14-22)

There are many women in the Bible who exhibited wisdom. One such lady is simply described as “a wise woman” who lived in the city of Abel Beth Maakah, which was in the northernmost part of Israel.

The city was under siege by King David’s army which was under the command of Joab. The army had chased a rebel leader named Sheba to the city, and, in the attempt to suppress the revolt and ferret out Sheba, had blockaded the city and was preparing for invasion.

However, before the army could break through the city walls, a woman wisely intervened. She called out to speak to Joab. When Joab came near, she appealed to him stating, “We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?” (2 Samuel 20:19). Joab then replied he did not come to destroy the city but to apprehend the rebel Sheba who took refuge in the city. He promised if Sheba was handed over, the army would take him and leave the city in peace.

Recognizing the chance to prevent needless bloodshed and destruction, the woman then rallied her fellow citizens into action. “Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home,” (2 Samuel 20:22).

The woman from Abel Beth Maakah showed both courage and wisdom to keep the peace. She took it upon herself to swiftly ascertain the army’s plans and reasons for being there and then formulated an opportunity to spare innocent lives both within the city and the army. While gruesome, through the execution of the rebel, the God-fearing woman did the greatest good for the greatest number of individuals, including removing the threat to King David, the anointed ruler of God’s chosen people.

The Queen of Sheba

(1 Kings 10:1-13)

When offered a gift from the Lord, King Solomon chose, over anything else, wisdom to better lead God’s people. “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’ ‘Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’” (1 Kings 3:5,7-9).

I would argue that King Solomon was already a wise individual because firstly, he recognized that he was inexperienced and unprepared to govern God’s people alone, and secondly, he asked for help from the One he knew could provide it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you,” (James 1:5).

I feel one of the most elementary characteristics of wisdom is knowing your own limitations. No one knows everything; there’s always something new to learn. Additionally, seeking out individuals with more experience than you and who can bestow their knowledge upon you is key to gaining wisdom yourself. Solomon recognized that when He sought the Lord.

The Queen of Sheba demonstrated both features as well after hearing of King Solomon’s wisdom and then traveling a great distance to seek his counsel. “When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions…. she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind.” (1 Kings 10:1-2).

In seeking out the wisest human being to ever live, the Queen of Sheba gained more than she ever imagined. Not only did she gain wisdom to help better rule her own country, but she gained spiritual wisdom to share with others.

“Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. She said to the king, ‘The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness,’” (1 Kings 10:3-9).

When I think of wise people in my life, I often think of those from older generations, who have seen and done more than I. The Bible validates this in Job 12:12. “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”

However, age alone doesn’t necessarily coincide with greater wisdom. There are many young people who are wiser than I in certain areas, such as biblical wisdom. I learn much from them too. There are also many older individuals of whom I would never ask advice because their lives don’t necessarily reflect wise choices.

The Bible distinguishes between earthly wisdom, and wisdom that stems from the Lord. “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).

When we seek knowledge and understanding from the Lord and His Word, the Bible promises, “Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you,” (Proverbs 2:9-11).

Just as Solomon’s wisdom far surpassed anything the Queen of Sheba imagined, the Lord’s wisdom is even more inconceivable. True wisdom isn’t a reflection of intelligence alone because like me, relatively smart people can do dumb things too. True wisdom stems from humility, learning from failure, and reliance on God and His great counsel. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones,” (Proverbs 3:5-8).

If you desire true wisdom in your life, first ask for it through prayer from the One who can gift it to you. Then, delve into the Bible, our principal resource on God’s wisdom. Remain obedient in your walk with Christ because the closer we are to Him, the more we become a reflection of Him. Additionally, seek out wise individuals who can mentor you, for true wisdom is more valuable than any material riches.

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed,” (Proverbs 3:13-18).

Have a blessed week!

-Becky