Get Wisdom

May 4: Proverbs 4

Think about the wisest person you know. How can we get that kind of wisdom? It’s not something we can buy or borrow, but it is something that can be given. The key is that we must strive for it by listening. If we don’t listen when wisdom is offered, then the gift was wasted. Proverbs chapter 4 explains the importance of listening to the bits of wisdom offered to us.

Proverbs 4

A Father’s Example

1 Listen, [my] sons, to a father’s discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
2 for I am giving you good instruction. Don’t abandon my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother,
4 he taught me and said: “Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; don’t forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 Wisdom is supreme-so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty.”

Two Ways of Life

10 Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years.
11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Don’t set foot on the path of the wicked; don’t proceed in the way of evil ones.
15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by.
16 For they can’t sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don’t know what makes them stumble.

The Straight Path

20 My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings.
21 Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.

The word “listen” is used three times in this chapter. Verse 1 tells us to listen so we may gain understanding. It’s important that we pay attention to the wisdom of our parents because they’ve lived a longer life and experienced many things in their lifetime. They’ve learned the value of godly knowledge.

Verse 10 tells us to listen so that we can learn the ways of wisdom and choosing the right path. There are many wrong paths that the world presents to us, so it’s necessary to hold onto the wise instructions we’ve been taught lest we fall into the temptations of the evil one. We must pay more attention to what God’s word says and less attention to what the world says.

Then again in verse 20, the father instructs his son to listen closely to his sayings so that we may stay on the straight path. Proverbs 3:6 told us, “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Godly wisdom will protect us from the wrong path, but first we’ve got to strive for wisdom, get it, and finally guard it.

This entire chapter seems to be a warning of the importance of wisdom and the path we may fall down without wisdom. Verses 5-7 say, “Get wisdom, get understanding; don’t forget or turn away from the words of my mouth. Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you. Wisdom is supreme-so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.” Whatever you do, get understanding of God’s word.