Godly wisdom versus worldly wisdom acquisition. A look at Proverbs.

God's Type of Wisdom: It's About a Way Towards a Life That Works

God has not been silent about how we are to live well.. in His will with Christ leading as Lord. 

His wisdom is worth gobs! 

“Wisdom is supreme—get wisdom,” Proverbs 4:7 commands. 

It’s not optional for us believers—it’s essential for us to adhere to God and His Bible essentials. 

But wisdom, in the biblical sense, isn’t just about head knowledge acquisition. It’s seeing life through God’s eyes and living in reverent awe of Him (it's about perfect biblical application for your specific situation). 

Where does it start for you and me? Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Godly wisdom begins in us when we repent of sin, and humble ourselves before Jesus as Lord. It starts as we walk with Him, submitting to His direct authority (biblically) with a heart full of reverence and love.

The fear of the Lord isn’t some nervous dread but a deep respect for Him and all authorities under His—it's a holy awareness that God is watching, that there can be consequences for our decisions, that there is a weighing of motives as He leads us home. 

The fear of the Lord is to shape our attitudes and how we view things, how we speak, act, and think. When we live with that awareness, our choices start to align with the Word of God and heaven’s wisdom. 

Just as a child behaves differently under a parent’s watchful eye, we live more carefully, more purely, when we remember our sovereign God is near.

God hasn’t left us in the dark. His mysteries are for revealing to His children, not for religiously keeping us wondering with ignorance. 

He has used people to write down His wisdom for us in His Word. Psalm 19:7 says His Word “makes wise the simple.” 

Psalm 119 declares that even the young can outthink their elders in a good way if they are wise—not through mere cleverness, but through knowing God and obedience to His Word. The Bible doesn’t just inform—it transforms. The Living Word convicts and regenerates humans on the inside (He justifies us one by one) so we can then be sanctified and one day be glorified. It gives us insight for relationships, finances, temptation, health, trials, leadership, and even the words we speak or keep from speaking.

But wisdom doesn’t stop at knowing—it demands smart doing too. Fools hear the truth but ignore it and then their hearts grow harder. 

They repeat mistakes, hoping for different outcomes, but they didn't first change inside. Proverbs compares them to dogs returning to their vomit (See 26:11). The wise (children in the Kingdom) learn and grow spiritually. They repent, and do that again when they need to. They admit it and quit it (the wrong-doings. Talkin' course correction from being cleansed). They change course biblically, honestly, and humbly as Jesus leads them. They don’t just "regret mistakes"—they ditch the sinful habits and intentionally grow up into spiritual maturity. True wisdom is teachable, humble, and helps us ..always adjusting to God’s truth.

God’s wisdom calls us to see beyond ourselves. Life is not merely about our comfort zone or worldly success—it’s about glorifying the Lord. 

A wise heart prays, “Lord, help me see this from Your perspective.” When we put His glory first, our steps become steadier and our lives become fuller. "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

We don’t expect applause from the world or any humans. We don't try to draw attention to ourselves, but to the Word of God who deserves the applause and all the glory. God’s wisdom often looks like foolishness to the world's human reasoning. 

Saving intimacy for marriage, rejecting gambling, carousing, drunkenness etc, while giving generously (what's good and helpful)—these are strange choices to worldly minds. But we’re not called to love or fit in with the world; we’re called to be faithful to Christ. As Jesus said, the world will misunderstand and oppose those who biblically walk in God’s ways (John 15:18).

If you lack wisdom, don’t worry. James 1:5 promises God gives it freely—to anyone who asks in faith. But don’t ask just to consider it. Ask with the intent to obey. Trust God, even when His way challenges your instincts. “Lean not on your own understanding,” Proverbs 3 urges, “but in all your ways acknowledge Him.”

Proverbs has never been some dusty collection of nice clichés—it’s God’s divine blueprint for life here. Penned mostly by King Solomon around 900 B.C., this book speaks across the centuries, addressing everything from parenting and finances to discipline, relationships, and leadership. Many of us like to read the proverb chapter of the day of the month cuz there are 31. Its truths are timeless (if properly applied) because its Author is the wisest and eternal.

And ultimately, all of Proverbs points to the wise Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the wisdom of God the Father in human flesh. 

1 Corinthians 1:30 states, "But because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who for us became wisdom from God—and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption—".

Need a breakdown?:

"But because of him you are in Christ Jesus":

This highlights that believers are united with Christ through God's grace and are no longer separated from God, but rather in a relationship with him.

"who for us became wisdom from God":

Jesus is presented as the source of God's wisdom, providing guidance and understanding. "and righteousness":

Christ's sacrifice and atoning for sins make believers right with God.

"sanctification":

Jesus makes believers holy, setting them apart for a life of service to God.

"and redemption":

Jesus' death and resurrection purchased freedom from sin and all its consequences, offering a path to eternal life with God the Father.

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The Bible speaks of this:

"..in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:3 nkjv

 "In him lie hidden all the mighty, untapped treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3). 

Fearing God rightly will drive us to Jesus over and over again, where we find grace, truth, life, love, and the power to live differently..not under the circumstances but overcoming.

So get God's wisdom. Seek the Lord and with all that get His wisdom for life. Do this with a sense of urgency. Apply it with His courage. Treasure it above riches. And live in such a way that your life becomes a living testimony to the greatness of God’s wisdom—reflecting and shining His light in a world darkened by foolishness and error.

“Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:3–6).

The primary way we gain godly wisdom is by learning God’s Word (Psalm 119:169). “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). 

No one is born wise; we must acquire wisdom from God if we are to be truly wise: “Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts” (Psalm 119:98–100). 

Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” 

Immersion in God’s Word produces a heart of worship and thanksgiving. That heart of worship becomes fertile soil for seeds of wisdom to grow. Jesus prayed to the Father: “Sanctify them by your truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). 

He wants His followers to be set apart from the world, making godly choices and living godly lives (1 Peter 1:15). We can only do that when His Word lives in us. We can also develop godly wisdom by carefully selecting those who journey through life with us: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20). Paul instructed the Corinthians to “imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1). 

Who are your close friends? Those who want godly wisdom over the world's type will choose for their heroes those who exhibit this type of superior wisdom in their personal lives. 

Scripture tells us to ask for godly wisdom: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). God wants us to have His wisdom. He is delighted to give it to us when our hearts are set to receive it. However, James goes on to say, “But he must ask in faith without any doubting.."

But What Even Is Godly Wisdom?

Can we talk about that some more? Godly wisdom in Christ is a treasure far more precious than gold. He is the best blessing and gift for us, but wisdom is also a good gift. Proverbs 16:16 declares, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” 

The Bible consistently urges us to pursue wisdom as life’s highest aim (Proverbs 4:7), but not all wisdom is equal. The world peddles a counterfeit: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight” (1 Corinthians 3:19). That’s because “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile” (v. 20).

James 3:13–17 sharply contrasts godly wisdom and worldly wisdom. One is pure, peace-loving, gentle, and full of mercy. The other is boastful, envious, and ultimately demonic. Godly wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). It honors God and results in a holy life. Worldly wisdom honors self. It is clever, strategic, and self-serving—useful perhaps for “winning” at life’s game, but utterly bankrupt when eternity comes into view.

Godly wisdom is seeing life from God’s perspective and choosing to act accordingly. It means trading the values of earth for the values of heaven (1 John 2:15–16). We live as citizens of another kingdom (Philippians 3:20), and our decisions should reflect that allegiance (Philippians 1:27). In the words of Elisabeth Elliot, “The heart set to do the will of God will know it.”

The book of Proverbs—part of Scripture’s “wisdom literature”—contrasts the way of the wise with the way of fools. “Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright” (Proverbs 14:9). In our age, foolishness is often glamorized, while humility and wisdom are mocked. Yet Scripture warns: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly” (Proverbs 26:11). In contrast, the wise learn, repent, and grow.

Jesus, the embodiment of godly wisdom, shocked the world in His Sermon on the Mount. He said: “You have heard.. ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:43–44). This is the upside-down nature of the Kingdom—self-denial over self-defense, forgiveness over vengeance, humility over pride. To live with godly wisdom is to walk a narrow road, crucifying the flesh and walking by the Spirit (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:16).

As the old hymn says:

“Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word,
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.”

Godly wisdom is acquired through the Word of God: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). It’s not inherited. It’s learned. The Psalmist says, “I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes” (Psalm 119:99). That means we must soak in Scripture—letting it dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16)—until our thoughts, desires, and actions are shaped by God’s truth.

Barna research shows that only 6% of Americans hold a biblical worldview. Even fewer allow Scripture to shape their ethics and daily decisions. That reveals a crisis—not of information, but of transformation. As Romans 12:2 urges, “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Christian community also plays a key role: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise” (Proverbs 13:20). Paul told the Corinthians, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). We gain godly wisdom by walking with those who reflect God’s light.

And we must ask for wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given.” But that promise hinges on faith. “He must ask in faith without doubting…” (v. 6). If we harbor a heart that’s double-minded—wanting wisdom but unwilling to obey—it will not bear fruit (James 1:7–8). God doesn’t grant heavenly insight for casual curiosity. He gives it to those who seek Him with all their heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

Consider Solomon. He asked God for wisdom and received it in full measure (2 Chronicles 1:10–11). Kings, queens, and nations came to learn from him. But later, Solomon disobeyed God, turned to idols, and forsook the very wisdom he had received (1 Kings 11:1–11). It wasn’t knowledge he lacked—but obedience. His story warns us: acquiring wisdom is one thing. Living by it is another.

As Proverbs 2:3–6 beautifully reminds us:

“If you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

How might I sum this up?:

• Godly wisdom honors God, begins with reverence for Him, and results in holy living.

• It is contrary to worldly wisdom, which exalts self, pleasure, and temporary success.

• It’s cultivated through Scripture, prayer, community, and obedience.

• It’s a gift from God, given to those who seek it with surrendered hearts.

God's wisdom, just ask for it. Cry out to Him for it. And when it comes, treasure it—and obey it. Don't exchange it away from an inferior wisdom from the world like Solomon sadly did. 

For in the end, “those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the heavens” (Daniel 12:3).

We all need the wisest one--Jesus Christ. Please be forgiven and know Him in a personal way. Come to Him just as you are. Right here and now. 

Remember this. King Solomon received godly wisdom when he asked the Lord for it (2 Chronicles 1:10–11). He became known for his great wisdom, yet, in his later years, he turned away from following the wisdom he’d been given. He disobeyed the Lord and even began to worship idols (1 Kings 11:1–11). Receiving wisdom did not insure that Solomon would follow the path of wisdom. Sadly, he exchanged his godly wisdom for worldly wisdom, and he suffered for it. The rest of 1 Kings 11 details Solomon’s downfall as the Lord removed His hand of blessing from a man who was once great.