by Jan Beukes

Created on: October 10, 2009   Last Updated: November 21, 2009

The Bible has a lot to say about the need for wisdom and there are many verses to guide people on how to be wiser. One of the most well known, but possibly least understood, is "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

There appear to be two kinds of wisdom mentioned in the Old and New Testament - one given from above and one given from below. 1 Cor 3:9 refers to a worldly wisdom which is foolishness. James 3:15 also refers to a wisdom which does not come from above but which is earthly, sensual and devilish. On the other hand, the wisdom which is referred to in our title is one which is given from above by God Himself.

To understand what wisdom from above is, the Bible gives many references to the nature and personality of this important quality. Wisdom is referred to as 'priceless', worth more than gold or silver. Job, in chapter 18, also describes the price of wisdom as being above crystal, coral, pearls, jasper, topaz or rubies. In his condition of despair and grief, Job has a remarkable revelation of what wisdom is and where it can be found. In his final statement in verse 28 he declares that the fear of the Lord is wisdom and to shun evil is understanding.

As well as being precious and priceless, could wisdom also be a personality? King Solomon is probably the one person we are all familiar with as having great wisdom. In his book of Proverbs, he refers to wisdom as a woman. She cried out in the streets, she stretched out her hand offering her heart. But no-one gave heed. She said she would have made her thoughts known, but she was rejected (Chapter 1). In chapter 9, she is preparing a table inviting all who are simple or lack judgment to attend and eat her food. Here, we cannot help but to feel the similarity this invitation has to the invitation of Jesus for all to come to Him.

In this same chapter though, there is mention of another woman named Folly. She is loud, undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at her door and cries the same cry to passers by offering delicious food. But the verse tells us 'little do people know that the dead are there, her guests are in the depths of the grave.' Now we see a similarity this invitation has to the invitation of the devil - the counterfeit.

This clearly reveals therefore that there are two voices calling to us. One - Wisdom from above and the other - Folly, counterfeiting Wisdom and calling from below.

In the book of James, the nature of wisdom is described as first pure, then peaceable,

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