Get wisdom

Proverbs 3:13-18 ESV

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,   for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.  She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.   Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Proverbs 4:1-9 ESV

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,  for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.  When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,  he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.   Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.  Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.   The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.  Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.  She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Rev. Charles Han

The book of Proverbs is a contrast between wisdom and foolishness. Wisdom leads to life, honor, and riches. Foolishness leads to death, shame, and pain.

Wisdom's more precious than any gems, investment, real estate, or worldly wealth. We are to appraise it as of great worth. The Proverbs speak of how to get wisdom... We are to get wisdom.

How do we get it? Firstly, we must understand what wisdom is. It is not just deep thoughts. It is not just smarts. It is knowledge, expertise, and competence applied to everyday life. The law of the prophets is clear on the broad strokes of life, but not the everyday decisions of life. We are clear on loving our neighbor, but not how or when. A well intentioned action that is ill timed can backfire. That is why we need wisdom. A well lived Christian life should look like the woman in Proverbs 31. Her life should show resiliency, mercy, consistency, etc. That is what our lives should reflect. We should be able to handle the A-Z's of life well.

What do we aspire to? Pleasure? Comfort? Wealth? Power? Beauty? Do we seek out wisdom? Do we teach our children to chase after wisdom as the Proverbs exhort us?

Where does seeking wisdom begin? First, acknowledge our foolishness. We are called not to lean on our own understanding, but the Lord. Often this is applied to the far off future. But we need to see this in the day to day. Take a step back from our own wisdom. Seek after God's wisdom. We are to fear God. It is not a servantile fear; it is a child-like reverential respectful fear. In following Jesus, we trade our wisdom for God's foolishness. But God's foolishness is greater than man's wisdom. Consider this. Jesus is a workman who comes into our home. He first does small repairs. But then he starts tearing out parts of the house... It makes no sense. But we expected to have a nice small cottage... Jesus wants to make a palace
Such is our lives in His hands.