Over the last twelve weeks, I’ve been walking through the Bible’s wisdom of Proverbs with some godly men who are also great friends. I’ve been encouraged and challenged to live life the “right way” with the Lord God and with others.
In Proverbs we’re discussing God’s perspective on money, on love, on relationships, on business, on morality, on government (even politics)—on just about every aspect of life. In Proverbs we’re learning what God wants, what God thinks, who God is, how God responds, and what God expects. The proverbs contain truth about God and, more importantly, how we are to respond to Him in practical ways. In Proverbs we’re discovering the incomparable value of seeking wisdom.
To the ancient Jew, wisdom was much more than simply good advice or successful planning. Wisdom meant being skillful and successful in one’s relationships and responsibilities by observing and following our Creator’s principles of order in the moral universe. Biblical wisdom has little if any relationship to a person’s IQ or education, because it’s a matter of moral and spiritual understanding. Wisdom has to do with character and values. Wisdom means looking at the world through the grid of God’s truth as opposed to the fool whose way is right in his own eyes (Proverbs 12:15).
Wisdom isn’t something theoretical, it’s something very practical that affects every area of life. It gives order and purpose to life; it gives discernment in making decisions; and it provides a sense of fulfillment in life to the glory of God.
There are at least eighteen references to “the fear of the Lord” in Proverbs (1:7, 29; 2:5; 3:7; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:2, 26–27; 15:16, 33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17; 24:21; 31:30). So it’s apparent that the fear of the Lord is a significant part of wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 may be the key verse:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning [main part] of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [Holy One] is understanding.”
The six verses that precede Proverbs 1:7 explain why the book was written: to give us wisdom, instruction, understanding, prudence, knowledge, discretion, learning, and counsel. Everything depends on wisdom; the other seven words are practically synonymous with it. And wisdom begins and ends with knowing God personally by faith.
During this lifetime wisdom is reflected by how we live: either the right way of following the Lord or the foolish way of following the crowd. The Hebrew words in Proverbs that are translated “righteous,” “righteousness,” “upright,” and “uprightness” describe ethical conduct that conforms to God’s standards and moral character that comes from a right relationship with Him and to His Word. Righteousness is not living perfectly in Proverbs, but living the right way in dependence on the Lord.
The pages of history are filled with the names of brilliant and gifted people who were smart enough to become rich and famous but not wise enough to make a successful and satisfying life. It’s one thing to make a living, but something else to make a life.
“There is life in the path of righteousness, but another path leads to death.” – Proverbs 12:28
You don’t necessarily need godly character these days to be a success in the world; countless Hollywood celebrities, gifted athletes, dishonest businessmen, and deceptive politicians have proved that. But if you’re concerned with making a good life the right way before God, you must major on building godly character.
Those who follow the wisdom taught in God’s Word will become more skillful in handling the affairs of life. But we can’t think that this wisdom is a set of rules or a collection of “success formulas” that anyone can occasionally apply as he or she pleases. Following God’s wisdom is a full-time, eyes-open, hands-on pursuit. His Word must first work within our hearts and transform our character before we can become the kind of people God can guide and bless.
The first step in gaining wisdom is to recognize at the beginning that we do not possess it ourselves. Ha!
If we are going to get wisdom, we will have to humble ourselves before God and ask Him for it. To that end, Proverbs 3:7 says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.” Being wise in one’s own eyes is consistently condemned in Scripture (Judges 21:25; Proverbs 12:15; 26:12; Isaiah 5:21; Romans 12:16). It makes little sense to be full of your own “wisdom” while asking God for His. We must come to God confessing our emptiness and relying upon Him to give us wisdom for the needs we have. Saying “I don’t know” is not a condition of ignorance but a confession of dependence. It is to agree with Jeremiah who says man should not glory in his wisdom, power, nor riches, but in the knowledge of God (Jeremiah 9:23–24).
In this age of information where everything can be Googled, this day of social media where everyone can openly express their opinion, and this world of political correctness where the morality of the majority rules, what we need more than ever before is wisdom. Where can we find it? It’s not a mystery. Wisdom comes from God who offers it freely if we look for it in His Word and listen for it by His Spirit:
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like mining for silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity so that He may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His loyal followers. Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity—every good path. For wisdom will enter your mind, and knowledge will delight your heart. Proverbs 2:1-10
In Proverbs, the words “path” and “way” (and their plurals) are found nearly 100 times. Wisdom is a path to walk with the emphasis on the blessings God’s people enjoy when they walk on wisdom’s path. The repeated counsel is that the path of wisdom leads to life, but the way of either active wickedness or passive foolishness leads to death.
Our path of life may not be an easy one, filled with both trouble and sorrow, but it will always be a fulfilling one as we walk in the will of the God by knowing His Word, trusting His providence, and guarding our hearts and minds. The counsel of an older father to his inexperienced son in Proverbs is this: whatever it takes and whatever it costs, find wisdom. Happy is the man who finds her and gains understanding.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
I’m thankful for the godly men the Lord Jesus has brought into my life to encourage me, counsel me, and point me to the path that leads to life with Him.
I'm a child of One, a son of two, a husband of my one and only, a dad of three + two, a pastor of sheep, and a fan of baseball. Follow me...as I follow Jesus Christ.
(1 Cor. 11:1; Philippians 2:5; 1 Peter 2:21)
View all posts by Larry Murray
In Proverbs we’re discussing God’s perspective on money, on love, on relationships, on business, on morality, on government (even politics)—on just about every aspect of life. In Proverbs we’re learning what God wants, what God thinks, who God is, how God responds, and what God expects. The proverbs contain truth about God and, more importantly, how we are to respond to Him in practical ways. In Proverbs we’re discovering the incomparable value of seeking wisdom.
Wisdom isn’t something theoretical, it’s something very practical that affects every area of life. It gives order and purpose to life; it gives discernment in making decisions; and it provides a sense of fulfillment in life to the glory of God.
During this lifetime wisdom is reflected by how we live: either the right way of following the Lord or the foolish way of following the crowd. The Hebrew words in Proverbs that are translated “righteous,” “righteousness,” “upright,” and “uprightness” describe ethical conduct that conforms to God’s standards and moral character that comes from a right relationship with Him and to His Word. Righteousness is not living perfectly in Proverbs, but living the right way in dependence on the Lord.
The first step in gaining wisdom is to recognize at the beginning that we do not possess it ourselves. Ha!
In Proverbs, the words “path” and “way” (and their plurals) are found nearly 100 times. Wisdom is a path to walk with the emphasis on the blessings God’s people enjoy when they walk on wisdom’s path. The repeated counsel is that the path of wisdom leads to life, but the way of either active wickedness or passive foolishness leads to death.
following Jesus 