TRUE WISDOM COMES FROM KNOWING AND FOLLOWING GOD'S INSTRUCTION.

September 18, 2017

TRUE WISDOM COMES FROM KNOWING AND FOLLOWING GOD'S INSTRUCTION.

Proverbs 4:1-9

Elizabeth Hurley

Central Truth

Knowledge may come through books, but true wisdom comes through an abiding reverence for, understanding of, and obedience to God’s Holy Word.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
(Proverbs 4:7)

A Father's Wise Instruction

1 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may gain^{1

4:1
Hebrew know} insight,
2 for I give you good precepts;
    do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
    tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom; get insight;
    do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Footnotes

[1] 4:1 Hebrew know

What is wisdom, and how do we attain it? It is not intelligence, nor are we born with it. Also, wisdom is not learned from a textbook. True and godly wisdom comes from the eternal perspective gained from growing intimacy with the Lord through a deep, abiding reverence for His instruction. It is based on His Word, established in sincere prayer, and by following His will.

Sometimes obedience comes before understanding. But when we obey what we know to be true, then understanding or wisdom usually follows. Sometimes wisdom involves taking some kind of risk—usually with the Lord nudging us to walk into something or through some threshold that seems too unknown to us. But with wisdom, through faith, one can pass through these unknowns with confidence that our Father will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8) and that He is faithful and true to His promises (2 Samuel 22:31).

We also attain wisdom by asking God for it: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5) However, it is our responsibility to use the wisdom He gives us. When we receive a useful gift, we don’t put it away and forget about it—we use it frequently. This gift of God-given wisdom is no different. Use it and live by it.

For many years, I have struggled with feeling inferior intellectually. When I realized that intelligence and wisdom are not the same, I began to ask the Lord to give me wisdom. As I prayed for wisdom from God's perspective, I began to pay attention to His answers. Over time, He changed my heart to want what He says is true, good, and pleasing. Do I get it right all of the time? Absolutely not; but I keep praying for wisdom. When I listen and am obedient to His answers, I am blessed. “Prize her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.” (Proverbs 4:8)

1. Where does your wisdom come from: God’s Word or the world?

2. When you need wise counsel, from whom or where do you seek it first: from Jesus through prayer and reading His Word or from some other source? "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17)

3. When you attain wise counsel, are you obedient to accept and follow it? "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." (Psalm 32:8)