Do tomatoes belong in fruit salad?

Let's talk about the difference between knowledge and wisdom, knowing and understanding

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

There’s an old saying that I’ve heard for a long time:

Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.

And it’s one of my favorite ways to draw out the difference between the two.

But then…I try to think about how I apply that to my prayer life.

And The Lord’s Prayer is focused almost entirely on praying for wisdom, not knowledge.

Let me give you some examples:

• “May your will be done,” not that we would know God’s plans…

• “Give us today the food we need,” not to know where our next meal is coming from…

• “Forgive us our sins,” not to gain the knowledge required to know where the line between sinning and not sinning is…

• “Don’t let us yield to temptation,” not for the foresight to see the next temptation around the corner

The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to ask for understanding, not knowledge.

Because, ultimately, wisdom and understanding are way more important to changing our lives than knowledge would be.

My prayer for today

Our Father, help us start to seek wisdom and understanding instead of the constant search for knowing more. I need to practice how to ask for discernment rather than the answers. And that’s hard for someone like me. Grant me wisdom. Amen.

Remember

It is tempting to ask, “God, what do you have planned for my life?” But, it would appear that Jesus wants us to focus less on knowing what is next and more on how to be prepared to rely on God and God’s will.

Take a moment to stop asking for answers and try praying, “God, how can I shape my heart around your will?” It takes giving up control to gain wisdom instead of knowledge.