Benjamin Franklin once described a man of his acquaintance as “so learned that he could name a horse in nine languages; so ignorant that he bought a cow to ride on.”  Here was a man long on knowledge but short on wisdom.  He knew all the answers, but in reality failed even to understand the question.

Too often we mistake knowledge for wisdom.  Impressive initials at the end of one’s name may well indicate knowledge, but they in no way guarantee wisdom.  As the saying goes, “When you educate a fool, you just end up with an educated fool.”  A brain laden with facts may be empty of common sense.

While knowledge gathers and stores information, wisdom puts such to good use.  Knowledge comes from learning facts about life; wisdom comes from learning to live.  Knowledge comes from study; wisdom, from experience, and thus, and most importantly, from the God of heaven.  (James 1:5.)

Patience and wisdom walk hand in hand.  Knowledge may be hurried along, but not so with wisdom.  Wisdom simply will not be rushed.  For our own good (and no doubt out of consideration for those with whom we live), God bestows wisdom upon us slowly, a little at a time, not in overfilled bushel baskets, but by bits and pieces, here and there.

And among the odder aspects of wisdom is this:  just when we think we’ve “got it” we are often humbled, forced by facts to admit we’ve got a long way yet to go!  “Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  (1 Corinthians 10:12.)

When it comes to wisdom, we’re all works in progress.  And the sooner we admit it, the closer to wisdom we’ll be.