Wisdom

In Proverbs, Solomon (and Lemuel) write extensively on the application and appreciation of wisdom. In Proverbs 1:7 he writes that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” What does this say about us? For one thing, I think it’s telling that our appreciation of learning is slowly degrading. We are constantly bombarded by information from multiple sources, tv, the internet, radio. The world that we live in is connected 24/7, and yet despite that, the information that we pay the most attention to is inane and thoughtless. Celebrities, politics, and other human interest stories dominant newcasts without ever having a real effect on our lives. Does it really matter who wins in an election when both candidates will do the exact same thing after being elected? In the same manner I wonder why we are so caught up in the lives of people who we will never meet while our own lives are but a shadow of what they could be. Rather than spending time making our own existence better, we live vicariously through the fake tween heartthrobs on the Disney channel, or the scripted existence of reality tv. The current information age is like The Matrix without all the wires attached to us. And one cannot help but notice the irony of criticizing pop culture through a pop culture device. It’s like listening to System of a Down because you like their musical style and find their message intelligent.