Wisdom—Do We Have It?

If we do not know the secret knowledge held back from most of mankind, then we will not hear nor speak words of that knowledge (Matt. 13:11-17).

If we do not know of the “hidden wisdom” “kept secret from the foundations of the world,” then we will not hear the “word of wisdom,” much less speak the “word of wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:2:7-9). For we cannot properly channel the spiritual gift of Wisdom’s words if we have never been taught them. The very first of the much talked about “gifts of the Spirit” is the “word of wisdom” (1 Cor. 12:8).

Yet, few Christians know what the word “wisdom” means. Few know its scriptural definition. So we consult the concordance, and we find this: “The fear of the LORD, that is wisdom” (Job 28:28). But what does “fear” really mean here? So, we look up “fear” and find that in Hebrew it means “reverential awe.” In other words, “wisdom” is being in reverential awe of Yahweh. You know, the kind of awe of a hundred million galaxies out there, beyond our Milky Way and beyond our wildest imaginations—the kind of awe where you gasp for air, falling onto our knees—it’s that kind of reverence and awe of the One who created it all. That is wisdom.

And it is the foundation upon which the rest of the gifts of the Spirit are laid. “Wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore, get wisdom” (Prov. 4:7). It’s the main thing that we need, in order to grow spiritually. But how do we get wisdom? We simply ask Him for it (James 1:5).

And He will give it to us. That means that He has wisdom. Yes, He has reverential awe of Himself. He used it to create the heavens. “To him that by wisdom made the heavens” (Psm. 136:5). The question for us all is this: Do we fear Him today? Do we have wisdom?

 Kenneth Wayne Hancock