The Call to Wisdom

By Howard Jones

Over the years, I have worked as a consultant in the healthcare world. And during that time, I have met hundreds of physicians who were not only smart – but also wise in the decisions they make for their patients. I have also seen the wisdom of both men and women in jobs, different roles, and different responsibilities. But I have also seen friends in different businesses who lack wisdom in the decisions they make. The same is sometimes evident in song writers and poets – coaches and politicians. What I have experienced has called me to write this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Release date: Aug 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781977258212

Book preview

What the Bible Says About Wisdom

If you want to learn about wisdom,

your starting point should be the Bible.

In the book of Genesis, you will find the first mention of wisdom. But its source was not the creator of the Garden. It was the serpent who said this to the woman in the garden … "For God knows that when you eat of it (the fruit of the tree of good and evil), your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." What the serpent did was lie to the woman, and later to the man, and all three of them paid a heavy price when God found them in the garden.

What took place that day in the garden set the stage for the first man and woman to know the difference between good and evil. But it was also the beginning of life outside the garden – a life filled with struggles to know good from evil. And every man and women born after them have struggled with the same problem – because wisdom doesn’t come easily.

If you have ever had the interest and took the time to read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation – and if you have done so slowly, marinating on each of the 66 books – you will discover that our God is real, an awesome God who loves all His creation – including me. And if over time you seriously read the Bible from cover to cover, you will be exposed to wisdom beyond yours and mine. Because of His love for us, you will discover how God views wisdom versus knowledge.

The following pages will reveal to you every verse in the Bible that specifically addresses these two words. And if you read each verse slowly, marinate on its content, and then write in your journal what the Holy Spirit revealed to you, you will come away knowing the blessing of wisdom.

The Old Testament

The first reference to wisdom is found in 1 Kings, a book written by Jeremiah. The purpose of the book was to show that the success of any king depended upon the measure of his allegiance to God’s law.

1 Kings 4:29

"And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and the wisdom of Egypt."

The second reference to wisdom is in 2 Chronicles, which was written by Ezra. The pearl in this book is Solomon’s prayer for wisdom.

2 Chronicles 1:7-10

In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, Ask what I shall give you. And Solomon said to God, You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father and have made me king in his place. O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?"

Because Solomon asked God for wisdom and knowledge and not wealth,

God told him this …

2 Chronicles 1:11-12

"Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you.

I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like."

The book of Psalms contained a variety of songs, laments, and praises written by a host of men over time. The Jewish people considered it their hymnal. But it also contains two pearls" regarding wisdom."

Psalm 51:6

"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place."

Psalm 111:10

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who practice it have a good understanding."

The book of Proverbs was written by a number of men who loved God – and Solomon was one of them. And it contains more references to wisdom than any other book of the Bible. So, if you read each of these verses slowly, you will discover that the only source of wisdom is God.

Proverbs 2:6-7

"For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright."

Proverbs 3:13

"Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold."

Proverbs 8:10-11

"Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her."

Proverbs 11:2

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."

Proverbs 13:10

"By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom."

Proverbs 23:23

"Buy truth, and do not sell it: buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding."

Proverbs 29:3

"He who loves wisdom makes his father glad."

Proverbs 28:15

"The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."

Proverbs 31:26 (referring to the woman who fears the Lord)

"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."

The book of Jeremiah contains the last reference to wisdom in the Old Testament. But those twenty-five words proclaim the true source of wisdom.

Jeremiah 10:12

"It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens."

The New Testament

In the Old Testament, the pearls regarding wisdom were plentiful and always pointed to God as the source of wisdom. In the New Testament, however, you will find a second source of wisdom. For three years, the source of wisdom was Jesus, the son of God. And it was Jesus who introduced to the world the Spirit of Wisdom. The wisdom that He shared with the men who walked with Him is found the New Testament.

Matthew 11:19

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."

Luke 2:52

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man."

Romans 11:33

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!"

1 Corinthians 1:17

"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its