Wisdom: What Does it Mean to be Wise?

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Prov. 11:30

It’s surprising to some when they find a reference to soul-winning in the Old Covenant Scriptures. After all, evangelism wasn’t a priority for the Hebrews, whose interests tended more toward preserving their exclusive identity as God’s chosen people.
A careful study of wisdom, though, suggests that the Hebrews overlooked much of their calling.
Several times in the book of Proverbs and elsewhere, we’re told that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” The phrase “beginning of wisdom” suggests that we can only get wisdom progressively. To acknowledge and reverently submit to God is only to embark on the journey.
The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us what makes up “the rest of wisdom.”

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Eccl. 12:13

Wisdom, then, consists not only in fearing God, but also in obeying God. A thousand years after Solomon, James taught the same lesson in his general epistle “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.”

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:19, 20

Fearing God, by itself, makes us only as wise as the devils. Wisdom is only complete when it shows itself in our actions. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26).

Wisdom and Knowledge Aren’t Synonymous

Many people think wisdom and knowledge are the same thing. If you get enough knowledge, they say, you’ll be wise. So many people spend much money on university degrees in the search for wisdom, and all they end up with is knowledge.
Wisdom isn’t knowledge, by itself. Wisdom is knowledge, practically applied for the glory of God and the betterment of the created order. All the knowledge in the world is useless unless it has a practical application.
Money in your wallet is useless. It only has value when it’s spent. Knowledge in your mind is useless. It only has value when it’s applied. Faith in your heart is useless. It only has value when it’s displayed to the world in your words and deeds.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:16

To have the fear of the Lord and to bear the fruit of the righteous is what it means to be wise.