Some time back, a successful Christian blogger attacked another successful blogger. The second blogger responded with an avalanche of knowledge, the attacker turned to insults and false accusations, and the second blogger continued to use wisdom and knowledge (the ability to recall truth), citing Scripture and actual events.

Badly defeated in a debate that was getting a lot of visits, the attacker began blasting his own followers for checking the second blogger's site to see the other side of the issue. He realized, correctly, that knowledge was an enemy to his cause.

The Proverbial virtues stress the importance of gaining and spreading knowledge. 18:1 tells us that a person who opposes wisdom (the ability to apply knowledge to a specific situation) is meddling with virtues he does not possess. He is hostile and unfriendly because these virtues are an attack on himself.

When you see angry teachers, teachers who rely on false accusations, and teachers who support isolation, Proverbs 18:1 tells us that they are interfering with virtues they do not possess.

Proverbs 18:1-2 is difficult to translate but shows us an important truth.

Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.  KJV

A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. New King James Version

Holding on  to a false doctrine while claiming to be a fundamentalist, a Christian can find himself constantly being defeated by wisdom (the ability to apply knowledge to a specific situation). So he starts preaching isolation, while labeling it separation. You cannot listen to Billy Graham! or the Southern Baptist Convention! or Jerry Falwell! or Bob Jones University! or the charismatics! or Adam Clarke! or Strong's Exhaustive Concordance! or anyone showing the sins of the leader's group!

Eventually, the leader isolates his group enough that his followers cannot learn the errors of their leader.

UNDERSTANDING--the ability to benefit from wise counsel. Proverbs 1:5-6


1) Gives you the ability to see how goodness works 2:9
2) Gives you happiness 3:13
3) It preserves the other virtues 5:1-2
4) Impossible to attain without wisdom 10:23 Wisdom and understanding are often listed together and they overlap.
5) People who have understanding seek knowledge 15:14 There is a doctrine that you should not listen to Christians who expose a leader's sins, but understanding goes against that doctrine.
6) Listening to rebuke increases your understanding 15:32
7) Understanding is increased by keeping God's Word rather than man's word Psalm 119:100

My professor defined wisdom as "the ability to apply Scripture to a specific situation." I feel that a better definition is "the ability to apply knowledge to a specific situation."

But the professor still amazed me as he cited verse after verse about the value of wisdom:

1) It provides happiness 3:13
2) It gives you glory 3:35
3) It's the principal thing 4:7
4) It's better than everything else 8:11
5) It's the key to other virtues 8:12 This was a flaw in the professor’s teaching-he made every virtue sharply distinct from the others, when they actually overlap and build each other. Without wisdom, it is difficult or impossible to advance to other virtues.
6) Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord 9:10
7) Wisdom produces helpful, truthful talk 12:18, plus the verses surrounding it. Also 15:2 & 16:23
8) Associating with wise men gives you wisdom 13:20
9) Better than gold 16:16
10) Makes you strong  24:5 Yelling "Don't quit!" over and over can help. But wisdom gives Christ's servants the strength to keep going when things get rough.

Wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore, get wisdom.

WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING

"Wisdom is the principal thing!" my college professor thundered to the classroom. "Therefore get wisdom!"

Sitting in that class, I was shocked. I was uncomfortably aware that I knew of that verse, but had pushed it aside. A heavy reader of Baptist literature, I had never heard this taught.

Talk about powerful teaching, and it was better than almost every sermon I have ever heard. The professor pounded out verse after verse showing the value of wisdom. Go ahead. Get a colored marker and mark the word "wisdom" every time you find it in Proverbs. Then go back and read those verses again. Wisdom is more valuable than soul-winning. It is more valuable that separation. Wisdom is the principal thing.

KNOWLEDGE   Part 3

Knowledge comes from listening to God. Many Christian errors come from studying the philosophies of theologians. 

From his mouth come knowledge 2:6


Should you listen to the knowledge that comes from critics of a corrupt system?
Wise people store up knowledge. 10:14
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.  11:9
Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge. 19:2
Apply….your ears to words of knowledge.  23:12


Are Christian leaders doing right when they hide sins from regular Christians?
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so.  15:7
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.  20:15