Principal’s Message: FROM KNOWLEDGE TO WISDOM

Principal’s Message

FROM KNOWLEDGE TO WISDOM

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Prov. 1:7)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Prov. 9:10)

The human mind has long upheld knowledge as the vehicle for success. Since the height of the Enlightenment era in the eighteenth century, the rational and scientific mind has played a major role in modern human development. However, I argue that it is not knowledge, but the wisdom produced from knowledge, that has effectively contributed to all the great improvements of the human life and mind.

Wisdom literature in the Bible associates knowledge closely with wisdom, and directs us to the fear of God as the source of wisdom and knowledge. To gain godly wisdom, one is urged to value knowledge and understanding, and to welcome instruction. Above all, it is stressed that true wisdom is deeply rooted in a sense of reverent fear of God.

In 1 Corinthians 8:1, Paul made a meaningful remark: “We know that ‘we all possess knowledge.’ But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” In talking about day-to-day matters in Christian life, such as food offered to idols, Paul highlighted how knowledge alone may not be helpful. Having all the knowledge in the world may not help us to be wise. We need to discover the wisdom that is related to knowledge. This wisdom should bring us closer to the realisation of our insignificance and insufficiency before God, stimulating us to strive to know Him more. This wisdom should also humble us, but yet edify us—such that we would begin to show more love and respect to fellow human beings, and be more willing to serve and help others.

Theological education is not meant to be a mere knowledge-imparting endeavour. It is ultimately a quest for wisdom through the journey in search for knowledge. It is the process of discovering the diamond of true wisdom while mining for all sorts of data and information from day to day.  It is a life-long venture of going nearer to the heart of God as we humbly commit ourselves to a path of continuous learning.