How To Become A Wiser Person
Proverbs 2:1-7 NKJV
1 My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
God’s wisdom is not placed in our hand, but it is not out of reach. These verses in Proverbs are clear as to how to obtain more wisdom. The good news is that God is not withholding wisdom from us. And I won’t call it bad news, but the truth is that wisdom comes to those who have a desire for it and seek it.
The author of our verses for today is speaking to a son. And we can easily adapt this as God speaking to us, His children. If there are any words worth receiving and treasuring within us, they are God’s Words. And right from the start, we see that valuation is important. Because we value God’s Word and wisdom, we receive His words and treasure what He says to us. We are listening for wisdom and looking for ways we can
apply it to our lives.
Then we see desire for God’s wisdom that borders on urgency. We are crying out to God for discernment and understanding. This is not a casual posture toward God’s Word and wisdom. This is a genuine desire. And verse four makes this desire for God’s wisdom even clearer. Seeking God’s wisdom as you would money or hidden treasure.
The hidden treasure part speaks of God’s wisdom not always being readily apparent. There is wisdom that is hidden from those who do not esteem it. And wisdom that is revealed to those who honor and treasure it. Two people can hear the same message preached at the same time. For one, it’s whatever. For the other, it’s revelation that is exciting. The word and wisdom of God are the same, but the attitude of the hearer is what makes the difference. This is why Jesus said more than once, “he who has ears to hear let him hear.” And Jesus also said to those who have ears to hear, more will be given to them. So many things in life are automatic. Growing physically is automatic until a certain age. Growing intellectually is automatic in the early years. But growing in God’s wisdom is not a function of time spent hearing God’s wisdom but rather focus and a desire to know and grow in God’s wisdom.
After crying out and seeking for God’s wisdom, verse five says then we will understand the fear of the Lord. But you may think, I wasn’t looking to understand the fear of the Lord, but that is where wisdom and knowledge begin. All wisdom begins with the One who created all things. There is nothing hidden from His sight and nothing He does not know or understand. A fear and respect for God and a greater understanding of God is foundation for the wisdom we need in life. For God gives wisdom and from Him comes knowledge and understanding. He actually stores wisdom for us and protects us as we walk with Him.
How do we become wiser people? We desire God and His wisdom and pursue it intentionally.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for making wisdom available to me. I desire to be full of You and Your wisdom!