Many of you know that Becky and I spent the summer of 1978 in Germany serving at the German Bible Institute in Seeheim.
This just happened to be the first of a number of mission trips we made together in 37 years of marriage.
Now, when you enter the gates of the Bible school, you're greeted by a sign that says, "In him [that is, in Christ] are hidden all the secrets of wisdom and knowledge." I keep coming back to that sign. The longer I live, the less impressed I am with knowledge. When Paul adds "wisdom" to "knowledge" here, he seems to be emphasizing a point. He's telling us that all of our knowledge is profitable only when we put it into action. Knowledge alone falls flat or knowledge alone puffs us up with pride. I always have to smile when I see freshly minted doctoral students adding "Ph.D." to their email signature or carefully arranging their diplomas on their office wall. One day they'll outgrow that. Frankly, I'm not the least bit impressed with you just because you have a doctorate. I've known many a fool, even in my own field, who possessed impeccable academic credentials. Some would not even claim to be believers in Christ.
I think we all want more than knowledge. We want to be wise. Why? Because wisdom tempers knowledge. It seasons it with grace. It gives it meaning and practicality. I know of nothing more beautiful than a brilliant scholar who wears his considerable learning lightly. An old Scottish proverb says it well: "Greek, Hebrew, and Latin all have their proper place. But it's not at the head of the cross where Pilate put them, but at the foot of the cross in humble service to Christ." Pride was unbecoming in the first century church and it is unbecoming in the 21st century church. Knowledge makes us arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know. Again, knowledge per se is the not the issue, as long as my wisdom begins to match my knowledge.
To all my Greek students I say: In nine weeks of Greek class, you've listened so well. We've learned a lot, but that's only knowledge. Now it's time for wisdom. Now it's time to act upon what we're learning. Now it's time to prayerfully think through things for ourselves.
Knowledge comes from the Bible. Wisdom comes from God. If you wish to have God's wisdom, it begins with a close walk with him.