Opening Scripture
“My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 2:1-6 NASB
A Reflection on True Knowledge
Solomon wrote,
“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered” …Proverbs 28:26
What is it to walk wisely? Does it have to do with what you feel? Does it have to do with what you know? Or does it have to do with what you are willing to learn and open yourself up to?
Wisdom in every level has to do with the opportunity to learn, consider, and discern and weigh what you have learned or even what it is that you are seeing. What you have learned in the classroom, what you have learned in life, and what you have learned from God. For a person to rely only on their own “current wisdom” is to place a ceiling on their ability to be wise and understand.
The way of the wise needs to consider a few things as we reflect upon the Proverbs of Solomon:
- To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice, and equity…Prov. 1:3
- A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel…Prov. 1:5
- Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil...Prov. 3:7
- He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully…Prov. 10:8
- The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel…Prov. 12:15
- A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless...Prov. 14:16
- Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days…Prov. 19:20
While these are only a few of the many sayings of this proverbial writer, they look to the idea of humility. In one instance, we are to receive instruction, while in another, we are to listen to counsel. To not be wise in your own eyes is to not be proud or prideful of what you do know. To consider the fact that one may not know it all is to take a step in the direction of wisdom. To consider the knowledge of others, carefully striving to understand all that is available to you, is not something bad but rather something good.
A young man once asked an older, godly mentor,
“What’s the difference between knowledge and wisdom?”
The mentor pointed to a brick wall and said, “Knowledge tells you that it’s a wall. Wisdom tells you not to walk into it.” Wisdom is not just knowing facts—it’s knowing how to apply truth in daily life. That’s why Proverbs 4:7 says, “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.”
Paul wrote to the Ephesians Church,
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” …Eph. 5:15-16
To walk wisely is to walk in the ways of the Lord (Hosea 14:9). This is according to what you know (John 17:17; 1 John 5:13-21), which leads to the faith we have. To walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7) is to please God (cf. Heb. 11:1,6), and this is the wise road to walk. This isn’t based on a feeling; it is based on faith and understanding. Wisdom is seen in our ability to choose the Lord (Josh. 24:15) and to set our ways to His ways (Ezra 7:10) and to walk in them throughout life (Eph. 4:1-4). This is wisdom: to fear the Lord and keep His commandments (Eccl.. 12:13).
You see, true wisdom discerns God’s will for your life and not your own (Mt. 26:42). It considers the wisdom of God for your life as He is and can do far more above all that we can ask or think (Eph. 3:14-21). I rise up in the morning with a fresh breath of humility and fall asleep each night in peace. Why? Because the depth of knowledge that exists is beyond you, yet at your door.
While wisdom may be vast, it is also attainable. Its motive is pure, but it takes time to acquire. Only with diligence and intention can we gain it, and with humility can we apply it. So let us be a people who consider the wisdom of God in wise counsel as we walk through life, that we may walk with Him.
