Today I'd like to begin a series of articles on wisdom. It seems to be that longer I live in this culture the more I realize it is permeated with foolishness on almost every level. The homes in America are being governed on principles that were promoted by foolish men. Decades ago Dr. Spock led multitudes away from Biblical principles of child rearing toward a humanistic philosophy for raising children. Later, he recognized his principles didn't work. Too late.

Educational institutions from primary schools through post-graduate have become bastions of godless, humanistic indoctrination. They no longer produce independent thinkers but rather drones who can do little more than regurgitate the atheistic drivel of their tenured masters while they “occupy” public parks, barking out mindless mantras to any who will listen.

What of those who occupy seats of government? Is this not foolishness on parade? Sit and listen to a politician for more than three minutes and you'll find that two minutes and fifty-eight seconds of what you heard was foolish talk. One could go on and on of the examples of fools and their foolishness in our culture, but after we have vented our frustrations, what then? We must be proactive in fighting the foolishness and sowing seeds of wisdom.

What is wisdom? Wisdom is having an accurate, deep understanding of things as they really are and being able to make decisions regarding one's thoughts, words and deeds based upon that understanding. This being the case, one must begin by having an accurate and deep understanding of things as they really are. Where else should one begin than with He Who made all things, including us.

If I want to accurately understand the world I live in I begin with God. For He created all things. Not only this, He also knows all things, therefore, whatever God has to say regarding anything is accurate. David said, Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; ... (Psalms 119:128) When we read the sum total of God's Word on a matter we have read what is right. Period. This being the case, Solomon rightly points out

that the beginning of wisdom is the the fear of the Lord God, to hold Him in deep reverence with a desire to follow His will. Consider these passages.The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7) Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: (Proverbs 1:28-29) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10) The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. (Proverbs 10:27) By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

Solomon, whom God blessed with more wisdom than any other person living or dead, teaches us the starting point for wisdom is the fear of the Lord, that is, to hold Him in deep reverence and awe and to be bent upon finding and doing His will.

Why is their so little wisdom in our culture? Because there is so little fear of the Lord God!