Proverbs 4:5-7

Proverbs 4:5-7

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding

Wisdom is defined as “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.” Understanding is defined as “the ability to understand or comprehend something”…as well as “being sympathetically aware of other people's feelings; tolerant and forgiving”. The Book of Proverbs repeatedly focuses on gaining wisdom and understanding. In 3:13-15, it stresses the value of wisdom and understanding, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.” And then verse 3:19, it talks about how wisdom was applied to create heaven and earth, “By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place.” Then in verse 3:21, we are called to keep wisdom and understanding close by, “My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion”. Now, the wisdom that is stressed so heavily in this book is not one of worldly wisdom. It is not calling us to be wise in things of this world like engineering, trading stocks, or making big sales. Those are all gifts from God and we should employ them as the Lord provides, but this worldly wisdom is not what this book is keying on. Rather this book is stressing the wisdom of God. This knowledge and good judgment is one that stems from the Father, not from man. It’s wisdom that is poured out through the pages in the Bible, wisdom that encompasses the Living God, speaking instructions to us daily. And the understanding that we are called to embrace is best reflected in Christ…the way he lived sympathetic and forgiving to those that he encountered…and the way that today our God, through Christ, handles us with great sympathy, tolerance, and forgiveness. We are not to be wise in our own eyes, as reflected in 3:7, but rather we are to be wise through the Spirit. We are to be wise and understanding through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to submit and be obedient to the ways that the Spirit guides, directs, and prods us in this life. And when we do submit with disciplined obedience, we will see the fruits of the Spirit springing forth in our lives! To God alone be the glory!