Understanding Understanding

(Proverbs 1:2 KJV)  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

“Perceive” (discern NASB) (995) and “understanding” (998) carry the same meaning.  One is the verb and one is the noun.  A literal phrase would be “understand understanding”.  “Discernment” carries the nuance that we are looking for.  Knowledge is based on knowing facts but keep in mind that your computer knows a lot of facts.  Knowledge by itself is like a seed on a rock, in a dessert, in the hot sun.  It is there but will never become anything.  I could take the seed and plant it in my back yard.  My soil is hopeless.  It might sprout but would soon die.  If I took the same seed and planted it in my mother’s yard it would flourish and produce.

What God wants for us is to be able to take the knowledge, the facts and observations of life, and turn them into decisions, priorities and actions that produce righteous outcomes.  He wants us to be the molders of our world under His guidance and plan.

So?  Get the knowledge.  Study, read, listen, observe.  And use it with wisdom.  You may only change your section of the neighborhood but God will be in charge of the increase.