I found a quote that resonated in my spirit by Sandra Carey “ Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living the other helps you make a life.”
The message of knowledge (education) is critical in the world we live in and as a whole we possess quite a bit of information regarding many things. Some of this information has been gained from the curious ones we call scientist (biologist, climatologist, geosciences, etc) teamed up with those who see the world as numbers called mathematicians. This information has been used to create tools that have the potential of making life better for all humanity. In addition, we also possess a plethora of information regarding history and religion that has the potential to make life better for all humanity studied by ones we call historians and theologians. All of this knowledge is found in learning centers producing scientist, engineers, business people, psychologist, historians and theologians. These are professions that allow us the ability to make a living.
What does it mean to make a life? I went to the definition of wisdom for clarity in what wisdom would look like. What I found used all of the following as definitions for wisdom, but when I read them this is what it said to me. Wisdom is knowledge, insight, good judgment, regarding generally accepted beliefs, with a belief in a course of action, and is found in the teachings of the ancient. Now Solomon said in Proverbs 2:10-11, “When wisdom enters in your heart and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion shall preserve you and understanding will keep you. “ Wisdom includes and utilizes knowledge, but is requires additional tools to be present. Solomon was confident that wisdom was critical in making a life.
So my question is have we confused knowledge with wisdom?