The Bible's Definition Of A Good Education: Part 3 - Wisdom

By Jason, M.Ed., M.A.R., Headmaster

“For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6, NKJV)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10, NKJV)

Knowledge, understanding and wisdom.  These are the three words the Bible uses over and over again to describe the development of a mind and life that honor God.  Yet what do these words mean and what picture can we paint from them of the education that God would desire for our children?  We explored knowledge and understanding in previous articles. To summarize, we can define knowledge and understanding in this way:

Knowledge: The facts we know about something.  The information we acquire about God and His world. 

Understanding: The connections we can make between pieces of information.  Being able to see how things are connected, and ultimately how all things have their unity in Christ.

So, what about wisdom?  Well, the world may define wisdom as “scholarly knowledge or learning” or “wise sayings or teachings; precepts,” but the dictionary definition that comes closest to what the Bible means by wisdom is “knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.” (Source: Random House Unabridged Dictionary)

The best literal English translation of the Hebrew word for wisdom is “skillful fingers.” The meaning behind the word implies that wisdom is best defined as “skill for living.”  Biblical wisdom connects our knowledge and understanding to life.  Not only must we know the truth and understand how one truth is connected to others and then ultimately to God, but we must be willing and able to act on the basis of God’s revealed truth, with discernment and courage.

This is a key point where the fundamental structure of a classical Christian education parts ways with a classical secular education.  For a secular classical educator, the final stage of the pre-university education process is the “rhetoric stage,” implying that the goal of the education is skillful communication.  As New Covenant, we like to refer to the rhetoric stage as the “wisdom stage,” to emphasize that the goal of our education is not merely skillful talk but a skillful life-- a life lived in harmony with God’s design of the universe and His will for our lives. 

Skillful living involves knowing your place in God’s universe.  Proverbs 30:24-28 contains an interesting and somewhat puzzling proverb:

“Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces.” (ESV)

Each one of these little creatures is wise because it makes the most of what God has given to it and prospers in its place in life. 

So, what should our children understand about their place in life?  First, they need to understand what it means to be created in the image of God.  We have an inherent dignity as human beings and a responsibility to rule over creation as God’s vice-regents.  Second, they need to understand what it means to be redeemed to God through Christ.  Among other things, it means we are called and commissioned as ambassadors for Christ, that we represent Jesus to the people we meet each day.  It also means we are called to imitate Jesus by being servant-leaders, following His example and laying our lives down for the sake of others. 

When our children understand that they are God’s image-bearers and Christ’s ambassadors, called to be servant-leaders in the world, they can begin to shape their lives around their true identity.  The decisions they make, the values the hold dear, the dreams that motivate them can all begin to come under this identity and be made to serve God’s purpose for their lives.  We image God.  We represent Christ.  We are called not to be served, but to serve.  Whatever particular gifts and abilities God has given us must be exercised in the light of these realities.  When we live out of these truths, we begin to live a life of true wisdom.