Is wisdom a result of age? Does it come from experience? Does vast knowledge produce wisdom?
The aged are not always wise, though more often than the young. Experience is a good and sometimes frightful teacher, and yet many never seem to learn from it. Some of the most learned and intelligent persons are the most stupid (1).
I conclude that you must want wisdom: “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.” (Proverbs 3:13-15)
Secondly, you must seek and gain wisdom: “Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:5-7) Many seek, but few acquire. Remember the philosophers at the Areopagus? In reaction to Paul preaching the Gospel, the crowd at the marketplace in Athens replied, “(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)” (Acts 17:21) They constantly sought wisdom (information really), being among those who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7)
Thirdly, since wisdom is the application of knowledge and discernment, you must practice it. Not to do so is foolishness, and no further wisdom may be gained. I believe this to be true because the “one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17), and “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” (Psalm 66:18).
- STUPID Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster , observe adjective entry 3: “marked by or resulting from unreasoned thinking or acting”. I take this to mean that you can have thinking (intelligence even) but don’t use it for whatever various reasons.
Moving Forward
Posted in Assurance, Civil Debate, Consequences, Cultural commentary, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Gospel, Implications, Sermon, Society, tagged bible, Blessed, Blessedness, Charlie Kirk, christianity, Faith, God, Jesus, Persecution, Results of Persecution, Sermon on the Mount on September 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »
I avoid political comment or commentary on this blog, but Charlie Kirk’s death is not primarily or most essentially a political assassination. His was a death (1) for his faith and the boldness with which he proclaimed the truth of God’s Word and power of Christ to save those who will turn from their wickedness to trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross and in His resurrection. This past Sunday, my pastor preached on how the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 apply to this and other situations of persecution. You can hear the sermon at “The True Meaning of the Blessed Life”. Without fully reviewing or summarizing the sermon, I want to point out three ideas that he communicated about the text, Matthew 5:1-12.
Firstly, he pointed out that the word “blessed” that Jesus spoke to His Jewish hearers would be understood to mean a “spiritual well-being growing out of a close relationship with God resulting in a happiness and settled nature in the recipient.” This is not prosperity gospel; it is peace and joy in knowing God.
Secondly, verses 3-9 about what blessedness looks like will result in verses 10-12, persecution. I add that Paul said, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2) Therefore, Peter explains that since you do not do their sinful deeds, “In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you.” (3) On the other hand, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.” (4). Persecution for doing what is right is to be expected.
Lastly, my pastor began listing some of the benefits of persecution even in the face of its horrors and difficulty. He seemed to have perhaps four or five items on his list, but he went on to list many more from which I made the following list:
Persecution brings
In all of these encouragements I have realized another most obvious result which Peter says most clearly, “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (4) The reason for the 16 things above in the life of individuals and the Church is the presence of God. I do not desire persecution to come, but God will bless us as believers when it does- all glory be to Him. May God give us zeal through the loss of this brother in Christ to raise up many more like him, bold to proclaim truth.
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