True Wisdom

04 September, 2014

As humans, we look far and wide searching for the meaning of life. We travel the world exploring obscure villages and far-away countries. We pay upwards of two-hundred grand for an education and place all our marbles in the hands of professors. We push ourselves to read more, study more, and listen more in hopes of achieving the supreme knowledge we strive for.

As a freshman in college four years ago, I held the mindset college would prepare me for life. I figured I’d graduate with a head full of knowledge ready to take on the world. I thought four years in a reputable institution would open the gates of wisdom for a life of adventure and clarity.

Looking back, I now see life experience and academic knowledge alone will not lead to wisdom. We need to acknowledge God as the source of wisdom in order to build a solid foundation to make wise decisions. Without the fear of God, my thought process was shaky, and I was prone to foolish decisions. Allowing the Lord to discipline me is the only way to real peace.

The world’s artificial knowledge is far different than God’s real wisdom. As a non-believer attending college in Los Angeles, I thought I was living the “high life.” I had bumped shoulders with celebrities at bars, dance clubs, and parties; my friends and I drove nice cars; I dated attractive, wealthy guys. From the world’s eyes I should’ve been on cloud nine. If worldly wisdom was true, why wasn’t I feeling euphoric?

Once I accepted Christ two years ago, the scales fell from my eyes and I began to see my life for the sham it really was. Looking inside myself with God-goggles, I saw how insecurity and lonesomeness clothed my heart.

The Lord stripped away my identity in the world, advising me to find my identity in Him alone. He told me to throw out the magazines, pick up His Word, and treasure each verse to build up true character. He taught me to throw out the “bitter fruit” and replace it with His fruit of the Spirit. He told me to re-evaluate my friend group, convicting me with Proverbs 1:10 warning to “turn your back on sinners that entice.”

Having recently graduated, I see how becoming a Christian made me far wiser than all my other classes combined. Unlike Earthly knowledge, the wisdom of God doesn’t fade. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and human-sparked fads go in and out of style.