Wisdom is the Principal Thing

We need more wisdom, both in our lives and in our world.

Think how different our world would be if more people like you and me had knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgement on the best way to act on that knowledge.

If more of us exercised better discernment instead of following whatever waves of passion are flowing through the culture at the moment we could offer insight that would help stem the tide of foolishness that washes over everyone so often.

Importance of Wisdom

The Bible says that wisdom is the principal thing.

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

— Proverbs 4:7

That means wisdom should be a top priority in our lives. It should come at the beginning and be the starting place for how we take in and process knowledge.

Without wisdom knowledge can be dangerous. Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should do it.

Understanding the Connection

That verse in Proverbs attaches understanding to wisdom. Understanding is a familiarity with something. It brings a skill in dealing with or handling that thing.

Understanding is the difference between having a loose familiarity with something and knowing it intimately. Knowing what to do is good. But knowing why and how it should be done is even better.

We live in an instant microwave internet society that constantly looks for the shortcuts to get things more quickly. But gaining wisdom and understanding takes time. We must invest the time it takes if we are to become intimately familiar with anything.

Shortcuts are not from God. The results of shortcuts don’t last.

However, things achieved by God’s processes last even down to succeeding generations.