Issue 1782 – Quiz Whiz – July 2, 2025
Recently, I was surfing YouTube and clicked on several links to old television shows, stopping for a moment on a quiz show. The kids seemed to know even the most obscure facts at a moment’s notice. I understand that the team consisted of selected representatives of their schools, but they were terrific.
Another channel had the quiz show Jeopardy. The host provided a clue from one of several categories. Contestants have to answer in the form of a question. A wide range of formats for these quiz shows requires contestants to possess a degree of esoteric knowledge across various categories.
There were “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” and “Name that Tune” and many others. Another popular television show was “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” After watching part of one episode, my answer is no.
A quiz show whiz, I’m not. Jeff Foxworthy hosted The Great American Bible Challenge for a couple of seasons. I will err on the side of grace and say that it was not great, but we watched some of the episodes from the first season anyway. It went quickly downhill in the second season and died afterwards.
If that isn’t enough, there is a plethora of trivia boards and computer games to keep you occupied. Trivial Pursuit, Bible-o-poly, and more are designed to test your knowledge. The world is increasingly full of knowledge and facts. The growth of knowledge is explosive.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s good to know something. A little knowledge can often come in handy. However, knowing things is not the same as being able to apply that knowledge.
Even using knowledge is not the same as wisdom. A person can apply much of what they have learned and never achieve wisdom. A wise person may or may not possess what many consider knowledge.
What’s the difference? True wisdom is a gift from God.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 9:10
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18
True wisdom is Spirit-filled wisdom. Compare how closely it mirrors the list of spiritual fruit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24
Even though I have a reasonably sharp mind for retaining trivial information, I know that there are way too many facts for me to remember. So, I have learned how to find details if I require them.
I know I will never learn everything. The more that I understand, the more I realize that there is still more that I don’t know.
I also know that while I am reasonably intelligent, there are many to whom God has granted exceptional abilities. There are numerous preachers and scholars, both alive and dead, to whom I am grateful for the knowledge and wisdom they have given me.
They have taught and continue to teach me much. I do know without question that my heart desires godly wisdom above all knowledge.
What about you? Do you have a proper understanding? Until next time, may God grant you true wisdom.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”