9 Qualities of Wisdom (And Why We Need It More Than Ever)

We live in an age where almost everything is a finger’s touch away. Consider this. Today, more information is generated in ten minutes than all civilization from the beginning of time up to this point. In some ways, this is good. But for all the answers at our fingertips, the Information Age cannot answer most of the questions that matter.

Even though we’re swimming in a 24/7 stream of news and media, personalities and opinions, I wonder if we’re not drowning, or on the verge of it? For me, the constant barrage of information is overwhelming most days. What’s legit? Is anyone reporting the truth? Who can I trust?

I’m not the only one overwhelmed. Statistics say we’re the most anxiety-plagued, depression-ridden culture in the history of the world. We’re more informed, more educated than any culture in the history of the world. But something is missing, something Google can’t answer and universities can’t teach.

That something is wisdom.

Wisdom is the antidote to information overload, to an age of anxiety and insecurity. The Bible speaks often about wisdom, and I believe wisdom is first and foremost from God. So, I want to highlight a few ways to grow in wisdom, to move beyond mere knowledge and facts.

1. Accept uncertainty and unknown.

“For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” -Proverbs 2:10

To move beyond knowledge and information to wisdom, you must move beyond black and white thinking.

Wisdom isn’t about what you know. It’s about how you see. Wisdom happens when you take knowledge and apply it to your life in a such a way that adds meaning and promotes the common good.

Your mind collects, organizes, processes facts and information. But only the heart can handle life’s paradoxes, things like love, death, suffering and God. Think about the first time you fell in love. Explain the emotions you felt. Explain the rationale behind your actions? Don’t worry, I can’t either.

Ever been in the waiting room when the doctor informs the family their son didn’t make it? I have. Who in their right mind would attempt to fix this moment with logic?

What about God? A few nights ago, I tried explaining God to my boys. With every answer, they became more confused. I mean, really, what make sense about a God who’s everywhere but also inside us? What about a God who is three but also one?

Wise people don’t need to make sense of the world. They don’t need to be right. They accept the uncertainty that is life.

2. Seek humility, and embrace wonder.

“Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.” -Proverbs 15:33

Here’s a first big separator of knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge alone puffs up (as Paul says in 1 Cor. 8:1). Enlightened people refuse to stand in awe of anything. Information says humility is weakness. Wonder and reverence are like silly games children play.

You will never meet a wise person who isn’t humble. As you grow in wisdom, you grow in reverence and awe, reminding you how little you know and how loving this Higher Power must be.

3. Don’t be defined by success.

“Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.” -1 Corinthians 3:18

Thomas Merton once said we spend our whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find the ladder leans against the wrong wall. There’s nothing inherently wrong with climbing ladders of success. But you won’t find wisdom there. To use Richard Rohr’s words, “After the age of 30, success has almost nothing to teach us.”

Even though I’m hardly on the other side of 30, I’ve found these words to be true. I learn much more about myself from my mistakes or failures than my successes.

4. Accept the finality of life.

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. “-Psalm 90:12

Death’s inevitability doesn’t strike fear in the hearts of the wise. Neither do wise people waste energy fighting death.

We live in a time where exercise and eating right are idols blinding us from the inevitability of death. I’m not against either. Both are important to my well-being — I exercise a few times a week. But I have also witnessed firsthand the idolatrous temptation that comes with physique and health.

Numbering your days gives you perspective, drive, and purpose. It challenges you to spend your mist of an existence doing something that matters.

5. Value character over reputation.

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” -James 3:17

Wisdom from heaven has no agenda. Its only allegiance is to Truth. Its motives are pure, which is the whole meaning of integrity. Wise people love peace.

Shalom is what we’re talking about here. Wholeness. Reconciliation. Unity. Peace isn’t passivity. Wise people fight, but not with the world’s weapons. They fight with love. Wise people are radically inclusive and obedient. They can forgive almost anyone for almost anything, even their enemies.

6. Listen and ask questions.

“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.“ -Proverbs 19:20

Wisdom implies listening. I struggle with listening. I want to be heard. True sages don’t struggle with this. They have much to learn, and they realize you can’t learn with your mouth opening.

7. Grow in hope, regardless of what’s going on around you.

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints…” -Ephesians 1:17–18

Wise people are always hopeful, to a fault some might say. Why? Because hope isn’t circumstantial. Hope is eternal which means nothing external alters it. This also means it’s ever-growing because God is everlasting.

Hope separates knowledge from wisdom. Most knowledgeable, intellectual people aren’t hopeful. If you look around, hope doesn’t make much sense. But when you look up, trusting an eternal God, you realize hope is the only option.

Wise people always grow in hope because their hope is always in God.

If you’re not growing in hope, you’re not growing in wisdom.

8. Surround with hopeful, life-giving people.

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” -Proverbs 13:20

The cliche “Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future” applies here. I’ve watched this principle have its way with my life. For years, I surrounded myself with negative voices. Some of these were church leaders, I’m ashamed to say. After leaving ministry, I spent a year unemployed. It was a cynicism detox, and I thank God for it.

I still battle cynicism, but I see it coming now. You can’t fight an enemy you can’t name, identify or recognize.

Wise people surround themselves with life-giving voices, people of integrity who live with passion and meaning.

9. Learn from the past, but never live there.

“Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.” -Ecclesiastes 7:10

Wisdom doesn’t entertain nostalgia. She’s a dirty liar. You almost always see the past through rose-colored glasses. You see the best of your best, in other words. All the crap you walked through suddenly disappears.

The past is for learning, not living.

Wise people remember and learn from the past. But they never live there.

Most people have these two backwards. This is the danger of knowledge. We dismiss history, but we often live in the past. We want to make America great again while failing to realize that our nation’s history is flooded with racism and oppression.

This is why we’re desperate for wise people. Wisdom always move forward. Always.

Of course there’s more to say here. What do you think? What habits or qualities define the wise?

Grace and peace to you. Amen!