“Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars.” (Prov. 9:1 NASB)

What are the 7 pillars of wisdom?

Lots of opinion and commentary has been written about what the “7 pillars of wisdom” are. In fact entire books have been written on the subject. But, I will simply refer to the previous chapter, Prov. 8:12-14, where 7 characteristics of wisdom are listed.

I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate. “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.” (Prov. 8:12-14)

The above passage lists seven ways we can become wiser in the way we deal with things in our lives.

1. Prudence: “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” (Prov. 27:12 ESV)

2. Knowledge & discretion: “A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might.” (Prov. 24:5 ESV). “My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion.” (Prov. 3:21 ESV)

3. Fear of the Lord: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov. 1:7 ESV)

4. Counsel: “Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.” (Prov. 8:14 ESV) “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (Prov. 11:14 ESV)

5. Sound wisdom: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 NIV)

6. Understanding: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130 NIV)

7. Power: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)

“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Cor. 1:10)

A well known and often used battle strategy is to divide up groups so they cannot use combined strength and resources. When divided, they become weak, vulnerable, and easily conquered. Jesus spoke about this in the gospel of Mark. He said, "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”  (Mark 3:24-25)

Satan uses this “divide them” strategy often to weaken both the church and the family

To weaken the church

God’s Kingdom - “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” (Jesus) – notice how divided God’s church has become. Instead of working together as a powerful group, the church is divided into smaller weak groups and factions called denominations (and other names meaning the same thing). It's not unusual to find many churches in each city or community, some even next to each other, but operating independently of each other, not together! Separated by a point of doctrine, their traditions, or difference of opinion on a myriad of other things. They are held together more by their traditions and doctrines than by the Word of God, thus making the word of God noneffective for them.

“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” (Mark 7:13 KJV)

To weaken marriages & families

The home, or house, the family structure. “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Jesus) – marriages and the family structure has changed dramatically over the years. We used to be a country made up of small farms and close knit church-attending families, but we have changed!

Get into agreement so that God can work in your life

“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, 'I am of Paul,' and 'I of Apollos,' and 'I of Cephas,' and 'I of Christ.' Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor. 1:10-13 NASB)

"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 'For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.'" (Matt. 18:19-20)

“Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:3)