“The beginning of wisdom is this, get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, gain understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)

Who doesn’t want to be thought of as wise? Being considered “smart” is okay, even if can conjure up images of Albert Einstein’s wild mane or the geeky cast of Big Bang Theory. Smart helps you figure out instructions, work out a physics problem, think quickly in new situations, make mental connections others might miss, and avoid looking too foolish in a game of Trivial Pursuit. Smart helps make you a talking head on cable news.

But smart doesn’t make you worth listening to. Since I grew up surrounded in school by some truly brilliant people, it took me years to realize that I’m actually pretty smart. However, it takes only about five minutes of reading proverbs or hanging with those steeped in wisdom to realize I’m not all that wise.

Boy, would I like to some day be thought of as wise.

Wisdom of the World vs. The Wisdom of the Spirit

Yet even here, I must make a distinction. Each day we are faced with the conflict between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of the Spirit. The wisdom of the world tells us we’re disposable, organisms doomed to dust. The wisdom of the Spirit tells us we’re eternal beings created in God’s image. The wisdom of the world, with increasing frequency, tells us we create our own reality. You think you are a boy, you are a boy. There’s such a thing as “my truth.” The wisdom of the Spirit says there is “the Truth.” Period. Mic drop.

Those examples are relatively easy to recognize. But the Enemy, which has dominion over the world, also plays a more subtle game. “Hey, Al. Do A, B, C and it’s yours for the taking.” Success, influence, even in a noble cause. The Spirit says, “Al, it’s all Mine.”

About six months back, a colleague — a very smart guy and certainly a well-meaning soul — comes at me all excited with a new idea for a series of articles for The Stream, declaring, “This will put us on the map!” Before I could articulate a thought, the Holy Spirit asked, “Whose map?” The colleague, quite logically, figured we’d help make a name for ourselves in conservative political circles, particularly in Washington. But the Holy Spirit wanted to show me there’s only one Name that matters. The only map we need concern ourselves with is the one drawn by Him. The rest, the influence, would take care of itself. (And as it happens, by being faithful to promptings of the Spirit, The Stream‘s wise publisher James Robison has in those six months become an adviser, counselor and trusted friend of the man who is now president. In other words, by sticking with God’s map, he’s wound up figuratively at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. You can read all about that right here.)

Embracing the Wisdom of the Spirit

So how can I get this wisdom of the Spirit?

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:30 that Jesus became “for us wisdom from God.” Jesus Himself calls on us to abide in Him, and He’ll abide in us. (John 15:4) So it follows that when we abide in Jesus we have within us wisdom from God. And that wisdom will produce fruit in our lives to the benefit of ourselves and others.  

Solomon asked God for wisdom and God delivered. Today Solomon is remembered as the wisest (and richest) ruler who ever lived. We can follow Solomon’s example by praying for wisdom. Remember all those times you desperately prayed before a test? What if all along you had been praying for wisdom? You would have been wise enough to have studied harder all along in preparation for the tests to come. “Go to the ant, you lazybones; consider its ways and be wise. Without having any chief or officer or ruler (or Microsoft Outlook calendar), it prepares its food in summer, and gathers its sustenance in harvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8)

In a related manner, we can immerse ourselves in book of Proverbs, along with the other books that make up the Bible’s “Wisdom Literature.” Try reading a chapter of Proverbs a day. It’s amazing what happens. Before long situations arise and the Holy Spirit tweets you a proper response. For example, when I’m tempted to fly into a political debate on Facebook, Proverb 17:28 leaps to mind: “Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.” 

Proverbs 11:14 leads us to another source for wisdom: “Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” In other words, soak up the wise counsel of those who walk the walk. I am blessed to be surrounded at work, home and church by the wise. To paraphrase an old Bruce Springsteen song, I learn more from a three-minute conversation than I ever did in school.

Embrace the wisdom of the Spirit and your arms can’t hold onto worldly thought-patterns.

The Apostle James writes that “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.”

That sure sounds like a smart thing to have.