Here Are My Thoughts

“To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity…”

This is how Proverbs begins. A biblical collection of sayings and questions, of instructions and observations, starts with a mission statement. Proverbs exists so that those who hear and read them may come to know wisdom-may understand how to deal with life wisely and righteously, with justice and equity.

And that’s what is so intriguing to me about this portion of Scripture. Tucked in somewhere near the middle of your Bible, after Psalms, this collection of sayings (almost like ancient Tweets), exists to help us become wise. Mostly written by the third king of the nation of Israel, Solomon, Proverbs helps us live our lives better, and with better things in mind-it helps us avoid what is destructive to us and move towards what is beneficial. It’s extraordinarily practical, and also completely consistent with God’s will and heart revealed in the rest of Scripture.

Which is why I try to read Proverbs every month. I don’t always do a good job of being consistent with it, but it’s a discipline I’ve found to be very helpful as I seek to walk alongside and like Jesus Christ. It speaks plainly to us, in ways that we resonate with at a basic, human level.

Here’s the first one:

READ: Proverbs 1

“Wisdom cries aloud in the streets…” (Proverbs 1:20)

Whatever our differences are in religion, politics, socioeconomic status, life stage, and so on, I think we can all agree on this: We’d all like to be wise. We all know that, if we’re honest, we’re just not always all that great at navigating the complications we often face in this life. We don’t always make the best choices. We wind up regretting a lot of the decisions we make. Sometimes, we avoid long-term consequences for those decisions, but sometimes, we don’t. And in the aftermath of it all, we think to ourselves, “If I just had a little more perspective, a little more wisdom…maybe this would have gone differently.”

Now, wisdom doesn’t eliminate regret-the wisest of people still make wrong choices, they still fail to have proper perspective..their wisdom doesn’t remove their ability to cause trouble for themselves. But wisdom does reduce that ability. It doesn’t help us to live perfectly, but wisdom does help us to live well.

Which makes it so outstanding that Solomon makes this statement about wisdom in Proverbs 1-that wisdom “cries aloud in the streets.” Wisdom isn’t passive, it speaks. It calls on us to take hold of it, to drink deeply as it pours out its spirit to us (Proverbs 1:23). Wisdom doesn’t hide from us-it is readily available. And there is much to be gained from taking hold of it.

But there is also much to lose in ignoring it. Solomon speaks about wisdom as something that laughs at the disasters that comes upon the one who refuses to hear from it. In fact, in verses 22-33, wisdom makes it clear: The only way to be stable in this life is by listening to wisdom. And if you step back and examine the history of your life, you can probably agree with that statement. Most of the trouble we find ourselves in is self-inflicted. We combat that friendly fire by dwelling in wisdom-and that’s why wisdom calls to us.

And so here’s where I want to end this thought today: where do we start? It seems that wisdom is readily available to us, but where do we go to get it? What is wisdom’s source? Proverbs 1:7 gives us a resounding answer to that question: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The same book that tells us that wisdom is available to all who seek it also tells us that we find wisdom through reverent relationship with our Father in Heaven. Wisdom is from God, for us. It is a gift designed to help us live the life God created us to live. 

James, the brother of Jesus, said it this way in James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” It’s simple, really: find God, and you’ll find wisdom. And the best thing is, neither are hard to find at all. Both are ready and willing for you to take hold of them, and to drink as deeply as you can in their presence. And when you do, I can promise you this-you will live better. You won’t get everything right, but you’ll find yourself moving away from what is destructive, and towards what is beneficial. That’s what wisdom does. That’s why we need it. And that’s why God is so good for giving it to us generously.

-Brett