The first search for wisdom recorded in the Bible resulted in sin:

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Gen.3:1'6)

Satan promised Eve that her eyes would be opened; that she would have much more of the power and pleasure of contemplation, a larger compass in her intellectual views, and be able to see further into things. He spoke as if she was shortsighted in comparison with what she could be. But partaking of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil did not bring godly wisdom; instead, it brought guilt, fear, and separation from God.

Eve was attracted to the fruit's alluring promise of wisdom. She had to decide whether to believe God or the serpent. Adam chose to believe the woman rather than the loving Creator who had given him the freedom to choose to obey (I Timothy 2:14). Adam and Eve's sins are the first examples of sin, but all of us sin (Romans 3:23). We have the same decision to make: we are offered the wisdom of the world, or the wisdom of God.

Colossians 2:3 and 1 Corinthians 1:30 explain that Christ is the source of truth and wisdom, and in Him is the hidden treasure of knowledge. When we deviate from God, things in this world seem desirable. True wisdom comes from learning, and learning comes from paying attention to the truthful teaching of God's Word.

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2, 3)

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God'that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

Matthew Henry said, "We prosper when we have clear knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus...Knowledge and faith make a soul rich. The stronger our faith, and the warmer our love, the more will our comfort be. The treasures of wisdom are hid, not from us, but for us, in Christ. We cannot be built up in Christ, or grow in Him, unless we are first rooted in Him, or founded upon Him."

The roots of modern America's educational system and traditions come from the ancient Greeks, who were the first to separate wisdom from religious control. They were history's first known humanists, believing that man was the measure of all things. The Greek aim was to prepare intellectually well-rounded young people to take leading roles in the activities of the state and society. Greek concepts served as the basis for the liberal arts, the teaching of the various branches of philosophy, the cultivation of the aesthetic ideal, and the promotion of gymnastic training. But there is a problem with an educational system based on the secular philosophies of non-believers!

Learning and teaching true wisdom can only take place in humble dependence on God. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5) True wisdom acknowledges that the fear (reverence) of the LORD is a fountain of life (see Proverbs 14:27). Our goals in teaching must be to discover God's instructions for life and respond in loving obedience. Following the ways of wisdom helps bring us in harmony with God because these ways are in accordance with His will, as revealed in the Bible, and are pleasing to Him. This is a far different calling than the state's standards!

True learning is learning something to the point at which it becomes second nature. Reading and math are good academic examples. Normally, we can read without thinking of how to sound out letters, and most of us know the multiplication tables without thinking. This applies to all areas of life. Our goal should be to instill God's Word into our children the way God instills the nurturing and protecting instincts into parents.

Can we teach them, by word and deed, to the point that they would recognize evil, and automatically 'without thinking' turn away from it? Can we teach our precious ones to respond in kindness'automatically' to an unkind deed? Yes, we can.