Proverb 10:14

“Wise people store up knowledge,
But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.”

One builds up; the other tears down.

When it says wise people store up knowledge, I don’t think this is about memorization of scriptures. While memorization doesn’t hurt anything, it doesn’t necessarily help anything either. I was able to memorize things for school to pass exams; but at the end of the day, I didn’t have a true understanding of the concepts. I stored up information, in that case, but not knowledge.

Knowledge begins with information, but in order for it to become knowledge, the information must be understood. And once understood, is stored up for retrieval, much like memorization. Where information is weightless upon retrieval, though, knowledge is substantial. So if I find myself in a season of temptation, reciting scripture won’t alleviate the temptation—even knowledge won’t do that. But the only thing that recitation does is momentarily distract the mind. That’s a win for the moment, but what about the second you stop reciting?

Knowledge of the scripture, however seeps into the heart and the mind. So that when I find myself in that same season, my heart and mind won’t be settled by the pursuit of sin because of the understanding of the information in scripture. So when I’m told not to be drunk with wine, I have no incentive to abide until I understand the destruction that drunkenness causes. Then, when I go to pour a drink, I’m not only saying to myself, I shouldn’t because I’m not supposed to. I’m reminding myself of the harm I am inflicting on myself and then am able to weigh my decision. I may still choose to drink, but it’s at least an informed decision. And my heart is exposed. 

The problem with deciding based on mere information, though, is we make flippant decisions that don’t have anything to support them. We often rob ourselves of the pleasure of good things because we don’t take the time to understand the information. And on the flip side, we are quick to participate in things we shouldn’t because again, we don’t put in the effort to understand the information relative to the task or decision at hand. 

So when we store up knowledge, it’s like building an arsenal of defense against the enemy. We are prepared and equipped to handle an attack on our spirit. This is wise, indeed. 

But where the wise store up knowledge, the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. Perhaps because he speaks without knowledge. He says things based on mere information. His words aren’t filtered through a mind stored with knowledge. He is vulnerable to destruction. He won’t hold a candle to the enemy. He Doesn’t have a chance in hell at victory.

I once held this belief that wicked people were bad, ferocious, dangerous even. Deserving of retribution. But the more I understand the information I read about them in scripture, the more I see them as weak and vulnerable, pitiful—not in a derogatory way, but in the sense that they are simply desperate for help. They are deserving of compassion and grace. Not because they earned it. But because they are ignorant and foolish—a simply misguided people who lack understanding. In my own ignorance and knee-jerk use of information, I used to point my finger at this group and separate myself from “those people.” I now see that I am one of them. 

So does this new piece of understanding make me wise? The thing is, we never arrive because Wisdom is not a destination. It’s a practice. Perhaps Wisdom has bestowed this new insight on me. But I also understand that I don’t have all understanding, so this mere enlightenment, may be mediocre in the grand scheme of knowledge. But by the same accord, it could be grand. Because I’m not all-knowing I’ll never know which it is.  So, no, it doesn’t make me wise, it just means I’m in pursuit of Wisdom in this moment. 

But lest I get a bit head about it, each moment presents a new opportunity for the pursuit of Wisdom or foolishness. Knowledge or information. Infrastructure or demolition. Day by day, moment by moment, I am choosing between the two. Building up and tearing down. Becoming wise or becoming foolish. And I will ultimately wind up one or the other. The bigger question is: what does my track record indicate?