Intro to Wisdom

Intro to Wisdom

We all need wisdom. The increasing chaos of our carnal culture demands wise responses from the redeemed. The day-to-day pressures of life require the saints to daily seek and practice wisdom. If you have been given any measure of God-ordained authority, you especially need godly wisdom. The solution is equally clear: prioritizing the Bible is the only way any of us can ever obtain it.

The ministry of Strength for Life focuses particularly on the book of Proverbs because it is saturated with the wisdom required to live holy, godly lives. Since this is the first day of the month, it is a natural opportunity to consider wisdom afresh. With that in mind, consider the content of Proverbs 1. This chapter explores five themes that are worthy of our consideration.

Proverbs 1:1-7 begin by explaining the purpose of the book. Since these are “the proverbs of Solomon” (v. 1), we can say these verses explain the reason he penned these inspired words. And because these words are inspired, it is also true that these verses explain the Holy Ghost’s purpose for preserving this book.

Both Solomon and the Holy Ghost want God’s people “to understand a proverb,” in the words of verse 6. While understanding is the umbrella over this entire section, we find five purposes for Proverbs that correspond to five infinitives in these first seven verses. Solomon wants the reader to know, to perceive, to receive, to give, and to understand. What is it that he wants us to know, to perceive, to receive, to give, and to understand? In a word, wisdom. According to verse 7, fools despise heavenly wisdom, but Solomon wants you to saturate yourself with it.

After the purpose of the book, notice the importance of parents in verses 8-9. This section reminds us that godly parents are an important source of godly wisdom. They have lived longer than their children; they have made mistakes and experienced success. If the parents are godly, they have walked with God, often for decades. Verses 8-9 poetically describe the real, and often physical, benefits of heeding the wise instruction of godly parents.

Wise instruction, however, is not without enemies. Verses 10-19 describe pressure to forsake the wise path—specifically, evil social pressure. Sinful friends, or the wicked culture around us, will repeatedly attempt to entice us into participating in evil. Social pressure, familiarly known as peer pressure, is a temptation not just for the young, but for people at every age and stage of life. Even if your friends aren not enticing you to steal with murderous intent, as verses 10-19 describe, it is difficult to entirely avoid evil “friends” or the heavy social pressure of an evil culture. Every generation must endure influences striving to persuade them to do unwise and ungodly godly things.

To summarize verses 1-19, Solomon says this: to be a wise son, listen to and obey your godly parents. Do not be the fool who caves into the evil enticements that often come from social pressure.

Evil enticements exist in every age because of the huge problem detailed in verses 20-30. Simple ones love simplicity; scorners delight in their scorning; and fools hate knowledge (verse 22). This matter of wrongheaded love and hatred is a recurring problem. Solomon speaks to fools in every age, to whom wisdom perpetually “stretches out her hand to you” (v. 24), yet who “have set at nought all of her counsel" (v. 25). Many people do not to “choose the fear of the Lord” (v. 29), and therefore do not obtain the benefits of having heavenly wisdom, because they prefer to live in their simplicity, scorning, and foolishness. This is a huge problem.

To those in every age who either embrace or reject wisdom, Proverbs records some promises from the Lord. The negative promises in verses 31-33 we could call warnings. If people reject God‘s wisdom, Solomon says, I promise they will “eat of the fruit of their own way” and “be filled with their own devices.” If you insist on following the path of a fool, ultimately, it will “slay” or “destroy” you (vv. 31-32). However, there are also positive promises. If you embrace God’s path and hearken to wisdom, you “shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (v. 33).

Perhaps you have lived long enough to see from experience these themes of Proverbs 1 happen in people’s lives. If you have, Proverbs 1 is a reminder to share that wisdom with your children and grandchildren, and the young people you have the privilege to influence. If you are young, and fit into the category of those to whom Solomon penned the inspired proverbs, apply the the principles of Proverbs 1 with sobriety. Heed the call of wisdom, and live with heavenly blessing.

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The above article was written by Pastor James C. Johnson. He is the pastor of NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fl. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.

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