Drowning in Information, Starving for Wisdom

Sometimes it doesn’t require many words to say something profound. Recently someone posted on social media a photo of a business marquee that read, “We are drowning in information while starving for wisdom.” What a concise, nine-word appraisal of our society today!

 

Consider how communication – and access to it – has changed through the years. At the birth of our nation, communications were extremely slow. It took days, sometimes even weeks, for news of even important events to spread. 

 

The speed for communicating gradually increased from that point, but even in the early 1900s, the process of passing along information moved at a snail’s pace. News was delivered either “hot off the presses” in newspapers just lifted off printing presses, or by radio, with individuals or families huddling around their audio devices trying to discern through the static what was going on in the world.

 

Even in the 1980s, after I had wrapped up my 10-year career as a newspaper editor, the communications realm could not have anticipated the barrage of information we have now. USA Today was setting the newspaper world on its ear, using satellite technology to send digital files to printing plants across the country to produce and distribute the newspaper from coast to coast.

 

Cable TV was just on the verge of exploding; few people anticipated one day having hundreds of networks and stations available at the click of a remote. Email was a closely kept secret then, a luxury enjoyed by a relative few, and the Internet was little more than a rumor.

 

Fast forward to the present. We’ve arrived at what the late sports commentator Howard Cosell would have called “a virtual plethora” of communications options. (If you don’t know what “plethora” means, or who Howard Cosell was, you can Google it.) Want to communicate with someone, or seek information on virtually any topic? Pick your poison – and it sometimes seems that way.

 

Go to the library? Who needs to do that when you can consult one of many search engines from the comfort of your in-home computer? Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and the ever-expanding social media options give us all the information we need, along with opinions to align with our personal biases. Want to be more personal? Send an email or a text.

 

The Internet seems as vast as the universe. Cable TV’s myriad channels are supplemented and even supplanted by streaming services. While print newspapers seem destined to go the way of dodos and dinosaurs, there’s no lack of choices for news, opinion – and propaganda.

 

So, we are overwhelmed with information – or as the marquee declares, “drowning” in it. But where, oh where can we find wisdom?

 

Wisdom has lagged terribly despite the explosion of information and knowledge because wisdom and information are as closely related as horses and cockroaches. What’s the difference? One definition puts it this way: Wisdom is the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge and good judgment. That is, wisdom takes information and knowledge, processes them to arrive at understanding, then puts that to work through appropriate application. 

However, wisdom is not opinions and biases buttressed only by information that supports one’s suppositions. In an age when folks proudly declare “my truth,” where can we turn for true wisdom instead of boundless confusion? There’s no greater source or authority than the Word of God, the Bible.

 

Years ago, I wrote a book titled, Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace. While the content was aimed at the business and professional world, I’ve found the wisdom from Proverbs useful and applicable for every area of life and endeavor. Consider one of its first statements: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). 

 

That’s not intended as an insult, but as a declaration that if we’re looking for true wisdom, we’re foolish not to make God and His teachings integral to our pursuit. Because as a verse that follows asserts, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).

 

What’s the value of godly wisdom? How about “priceless”? “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the main who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 3:13-15).

 

In Proverbs, called “the Book of Wisdom” by many, hundreds of passages speak about wisdom directly and indirectly. But throughout the Scriptures we find encouragement to seek and embrace godly wisdom. For instance, The Psalms start by stating, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2)

We could cite many other passages, but one seems particularly fitting for our current state of drowning in information but starving for wisdom: “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?... For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (1 Corinthians 1:20-25). Why do we lack wisdom? Could it be because we refuse to look to God for it? 

Wisdom – Product of Years and Experience

Sometimes I wish we could walk down an aisle at Walmart or some big-box store and grab a large carton of Wisdom. You know, the stuff that enables you think through and evaluate situations and usually come up a reasonable solution or response? Or to formulate a balanced perspective on life's uncertainty and perpetual chaos.

 

Looking around our world, we might easily conclude that if wisdom were a commodity, then there’s been a serious disruption in the supply chain – because the shelves seem virtually empty. Maybe the good ship Wisdom is permanently moored offshore with its precious cargo stuck in the holds below decks.

The late author and biochemistry professor Isaac Asimov stated years ago, “The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” Things haven’t improved since then.

 

Wisdom, unfortunately, isn’t something you can order online or purchase at the local mall. And even for those who do possess a good measure of wisdom, they didn’t acquire it in bulk. They gained it one tiny bit after another, and usually not in rapid succession. Because wisdom is a product of years and experience. As someone has said, wisely I might add, “Wisdom comes from experience. Experience is often a result of lack of wisdom.” 

 

When my children were learning how to drive – as my grandchildren are now – my greatest concern was not their abilities and training, but the fact that you can’t teach experience. It comes only through time and the process of living life; consequently, wisdom also can be accumulated only over time. 

 

We typically must learn from our mistakes, hoping those mistakes aren’t bad ones. Novelist William Saroyan offered the insight that, “We get very little wisdom from success, you know.”

 

Fortunately, gaining wisdom isn’t solely the product of things we do. Our experiences also include things we see; what we observe. I’ve learned a lot from older, wiser people who understood far better than I did how life works – and how it doesn’t. Watching how they responded to circumstances, ranging from keeping their cool in times of crisis to their approach to handling personal finances, has helped me immeasurably. Some things are better caught than taught, I’ve discovered.

 

There’s one more way for gaining wisdom. Perhaps the best way of all – one that many people in our world apparently have little interest in. It’s the wisdom that comes only from God, and most commonly from reading and studying His Word, absorbing its truth and striving to put its teachings into practice.

 

As Proverbs 1:7 asserts, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 2:6 adds, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

 

How valuable is biblical wisdom? The Scriptures themselves put it this way: “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the main who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 3:13-15).

 

But as I’ve written before, decades ago our society began the process of eliminating thoughts of God from our collective conscience, and I believe we’re paying the price. In the Ten Commandments alone, if we were to consider and apply them consistently, would give us incredible wisdom in how to effectively address many of our world’s greatest problems, from poverty to violence to turmoil in our homes and workplaces. 

 

The Bible offers clear principles about finances, including avoiding debt, being diligent to save, living within our means, giving generously to help others, and recognizing that ultimately, God is the owner of everything. Imagine if the Federal government operated within those guidelines.

 

The alternative is described in Proverbs 10:14-15, “Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment. Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.” As the centuries-old adage tells us, “A fool and his money are soon parted.” We could arrive at similar conclusions about those who fail to seek and use wisdom in other key areas of life.

 

Godly wisdom doesn’t come easily, but neither is it withheld from us. It only demands a heart that is willing to submit to the Lord, acknowledging that “Father knows best.” As Proverbs 15:33 declares, “The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”

Would that He might bless us with wise, humble leaders – and that we would seek to become humbly wise as well. 

For Some, April Fool’s Day is a Year-Long Observance

As I started writing this new post, it occurred to me that it would appear on April Fool’s Day. My first thought was that I wish folks were fools only on April 1. But all we need to do is watch the news, read the papers, see what people say on social media – or just go to the supermarket – to find confirmation that’s not true. They’re everywhere, and at times I’ve been counted among them.

Fools and foolishness aren’t inventions of the 21^stcentury, of course. The attraction toward folly and aversion for wisdom are as old as humankind. The Bible, with its unvarnished candor, cites many examples – including many of its “star” characters.

Even King Solomon, reputed to be the wisest man who ever lived, was no stranger to foolishness. God clearly commanded kings of Israel not to “acquire great numbers of horses for himself…take many wives for himself…[or] accumulate for himself great amounts of silver and gold" (Deuteronomy 17:15-17). So what did Solomon do? He collected many stables full of horses; he had 1,000 wives and concubines, and he became renowned for his material wealth. Each contributed to his less than stellar finish as king.

Nevertheless, in his collection of proverbs, Solomon wrote repeatedly and eloquently about the foibles of fools. Perhaps he was humbly drawing from personal experience, as well as astute observation.

He doesn’t take long to get to it. In Proverbs 1:7, the king asserted, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Later in the same chapter Solomon warns, “For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them” (Proverbs 1:32). He contrasts that fate in the very next verse, declaring, “But whoever listens to [wisdom] will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

After proceeding to cite many of the benefits of pursuing wisdom in the succeeding chapters, Solomon composes a verbal image of how enticing foolishness can be: “The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. ‘Let all who are simple come in here!’ she says to those who lack judgment” (Proverbs 9:13-16).

I still remember a literal portrayal of this while traveling in Eastern Europe more than 20 years ago: “women of the street” shouting to get the attention of motorists as they drove past on the highway outside their city.

Solomon writes about foolish speech and behavior: “He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool…. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment…. A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom” (Proverbs 10:18, 21,23).

The Israelite king devotes nearly an entire chapter of Proverbs to exposing the futility and fatal consequences of foolishness. For instance, “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down” (Proverbs 14:1). Do you know of anyone who could fit that description, whether it applies to their own home and family, or the enterprises in which they’re involved?

A stern warning appears verses later: “Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips. The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception” (Proverbs 14:7-8).

Then we see a contrast between those who strive to do right and make amends when wrong is committed versus those who have no interest in doing so: “Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright…. A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless. A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated” (Proverbs 14:9,16-17).

Wisdom goes a long way toward achieving prosperity, according to Solomon, just as foolishness can shipwreck one’s aspirations: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly” (Proverbs 14:23-24).

The ancient king has lots more to say about the human blight we call foolishness, but you get the point. Fools delight in wallowing in their own foolishness, while those seeking to be wise diligently pursue wisdom, which starts with humble submission and reverence for God.

So while it’s April Fool’s Day, have fun pulling harmless pranks on your friends. By the way, your shoelace is untied. But if you desire to gain the most from this life, make wisdom a paramount goal.

Fear of God – Far from Common

“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” This famous phrase had its genesis in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first inaugural address in 1933. As FDR uttered these words, several people at the event reportedly muttered, “I was afraid he would say that.”

This whimsically colored version of "The Scream"by
Edvard Munch is how some perceive the fear of God.

Fear is a funny world in the English language, conjuring up many images. For children, fear can mean apprehension the “boogeyman” might suddenly pop out of a closet or from under the bed. Or that mommy or daddy might abandon them at the mall. As we get older, an expanding array of other fears supplant the boogeyman.

It’s a word we attribute to a dog cowering in a corner, tail between its legs, hoping to avoid another blow from its abusive owner. Or employees who arrive at work wary of their tyrannical boss’s unpredictable behavior.

We use a convenient word of Greek and Latin origin – “phobia” – to describe fears, often irrational, of virtually everything, including heights, spiders, snakes, crowds, enclosed places, flying, specific colors, black cats, the number 13, and red-headed people. (Is there a phobia of red-headed woodpeckers?) Politically correctness has led to the creation of new terms, like homophobia and Islamophobia. 

But when you hear the phrase, “fearing God,” what comes to mind? That’s a legitimate question, since numerous verses talk about the fear of the Lord. The book of Proverbs, for instance, gives an admonition, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). Similarly, Psalm 111:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

For some, to fear God suggests being prepared to duck, hoping to dodge a bolt from Heaven the Lord might choose to throw down if He catches us doing something wrong. Is that what it really means to fear God – anticipating divine zapping when He feels inclined to do so?

Tame that down a notch, and some people regard fearing God as always being at risk of becoming the object of His displeasure and impatience as we repeatedly fail to meet His perfect, righteous, never-changing standards.

However, not long ago I talked with someone who expressed an opposite opinion. He posited there’s no reason to fear God at all, since He’s so loving that He’ll accept whatever we do. This makes Him sound like the parent who never corrects or disciplines her child, or the grandparent who delights in doting on the grandkids, knowing before long they’ll be going home with their parents to deal with the fruit of their spoiling. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Kids do the darnedest things!”

A definition of the “fear of God” favored by many is “reverent awe” or “admiring submission.” This involves understanding that while He is accessible – “Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16) – the Lord is, after all, Creator not only of this planet but also the entire universe. That’s not something we should take lightly, with a casual shrug. He made everything and can do whatever He chooses with what He’s made.

The foreboding image of the Lord lurking nearby, poised to yell, “Gotcha! I knew it!” is unfortunate and stands at odds with the concept of grace – God’s unconditional favor we could never merit or earn. We’re told, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Titus 3:5 seconds this motion by declaring, “he saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy.”

Nevertheless, this doesn’t justify an attitude by which we might regard God as “Bro,” or as our good buddy. We “fear” law enforcement officers, not because we suspect they might harm us, but because they have the power to enforce laws if we break them. I remember when I was in school, we also “feared” the teacher, knowing she or he had authority to discipline us or reduce our grades if we misbehaved or violated classroom rules. 

God is Creator of all we see – as well as everything we can’t. It reminds me of the parent who, in a peak of frustration, said, “Son, I brought you into this world – and I can take you out!” 

In most cases, because of His love, grace and mercy, God doesn’t act in a similar way. However, we know He can, and sometimes has done so. Think of those who perished in The Flood except for Noah and his family, or the residents of the sin-riddled cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, or the Egyptian army as they pursued the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. Ananias and Sapphira, members of the early Church, thought they could get away with misrepresenting their generosity. They greatly underestimated how much God values integrity.

So we worship a God fully capable of doing fearsome things. But If we truly know Him, and have an accurate, honest appraisal of ourselves, He deserves our reverent awe and wholehearted worship, praise and gratitude. As Psalm 34:9-10 tells us, "Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him…those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”