Many smart people have no wisdom. 

Paul says that “in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom” (I Cor 1:21).  In the same sentence, the verse talks about the wisdom of God and the wisdom that does not know God.  In other words, wisdom seems to come in different varieties.  Scripture speaks of the “wisdom of men” or “the wisdom of this world.”  In modern circles, you may hear the term “conventional wisdom.”  When we speak of wisdom in any of these ways, we are talking about a way of thinking that most people in a culture would consider wise.  We may use the word “wisdom” to describe these ways of thinking, but such wisdom is not Biblical wisdom.  Biblical wisdom and conventional wisdom are often opposed.

The wise of this world consider Biblical wisdom to be foolishness, but Paul says that “the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (I Cor 1:25).   

True wisdom begins with the Lord.  It involves His ways and His glory.  Earth, however, divorces God from wisdom.  In addition, true wisdom is more than knowledge.  It is more even than spiritual knowledge.  Wisdom involves living, not just knowing.  Wisdom entails the heart, not just the head.  Wisdom is practical, not just intellectual. 

The New Testament scholar who denies God has no wisdom.  The woman who understands the Atonement but never forgives her neighbor lacks wisdom.  The man who argues for the Resurrection but has a drinking problem lacks wisdom.  The parents who raise their children without the Lord lack wisdom, even if their children are well-behaved and make much money.

Life without the Lord is unwise, and spiritual knowledge without a righteous life is unwise.

True wisdom then has spiritual and practical components to it.  Remove God and you remove wisdom.  Remove the practical, and you remove wisdom.  Wisdom is God living His life through men.

Therefore, those people with the spiritual gift of wisdom are the people who apply Scripture to their lives.  They live it.  They are the people you go to when you want to know how to live.  These people give godly advice.  But their advice does not consist only of words.  Their lifestyle is itself godly advice.  You see their advice in their lives.

People with the gift of wisdom provide direction for the church but not necessarily in a formal, public way as teachers do.  Their influence tends to be less formal, more private, and on a smaller scale. 

The Importance of Wisdom

People with the gift of wisdom are the counselors of the church.

Strengths

• Love for Scripture
• Practice what they preach
• Focus on the Lord
• Practical life demonstrates Biblical balance
• See the spiritual side to human decisions
• Apply spiritual truth to complex practical situations
• Good listeners

Weaknesses

• Can be overly cautious and move too slowly
• Lack of empathy
• Evangelism sometimes

Examples of People with this Gift

Job, Joseph, Solomon, Daniel, Mark Dever, Jonathan Leeman, Tim Keller

Good Roles for People with this Gift

Mentor, discipler, parent, counselor, advisor, judge