WISDOM VERSUS INFORMATION OVERLOAD

In this age of  the Internet and information overload, it is important to know what constitutes wisdom and how it is different from head knowledge.


                                                                    

Wisdom is to be differentiated from an abundance of head knowledge. The ability to know the difference between the two is all the more important in this Internet age when we are virtually swamped by information at every turn.

Having wisdom implies we know how to live our lives well: We not only please God, but at the end of life’s journey, we can say we have truly lived meaningful and fulfilling lives – without any regrets.

“Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!” (Psalm 111:10).

King Solomon, arguably the wisest man in the Bible, depicts the spiritual pilgrimage of man in the book of Ecclesiastes.  At the end of this highly philosophical book, he states:

“Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil”

(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Notice, in the book of Daniel chapter 9, the contrast between two groups of people – one group filled with wisdom and the other without:

The wise will shine brighter and brighter even as darkness and evil triumph more and more. Though the uninitiated rush here and there, frantically doing this and that (age of jet travel and mobile technologies), they will not understand what is happening, even though they have lots of knowledge (information overload).

“And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4).

“Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10).

The wise are those who fear and obey God. They are filled with understanding and turn many to righteousness.

May we choose and treasure wisdom – over and above head knowledge – in this age of information overload.