Today is the First of the month, and a great day to read Proverbs Chapter 1. Here are some things that I noticed in reading through Proverbs 1.
“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction;…” (Proverbs 1:1-2a)
Verses 8, 10, 15 and others start out with the words, “My son” - so we learn that Solomon is writing to his son. He wants his son to learn wisdom. We get the benefit of learning wisdom right along side this father and son.
Here’s the point: Solomon was the was the wisest man who ever lived according to I Kings 4:31; yet his son did not automatically get wisdom. His son did not get wisdom by osmosis – he had to work for wisdom.
Wisdom is not automatic. Wisdom is found in the person of Jesus Christ. You don’t automatically get to know Christ and His wisdom, just because your dad was wise and had a walk with God. You don’t get it from being in a good church or having a good heritage. It is not automatic.
Verse 7 tells us where wisdom starts: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord – when you fear the Lord, and have a personal walk with Him, He will teach you everything that you need to know. He will give you understanding, and when you put that Godly knowledge and understanding into practice, you will have wisdom. Your daily walk with God will bring wisdom!
Wisdom requires repentance. It requires you to turn from sin to have this walk with God. In verse 10, Solomon tells his son, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
Then in verse 23, Wisdom cries, “Turn you at my reproof.” This turning – repenting from sin and turning to the fear of the Lord – is what will set you on the road to wisdom.
Here in simple terms, Solomon has laid out the reality of life to his son. Turn from sin, choose a walk with God instead, and you will find wisdom and safety, spared from the gnarly consequences of foolishness. Proverbs 1:32, “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. (33) But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.”
How about you? Have you hearkened unto wisdom? Have you turned from your sin to receive Christ as your personal Saviour? He died in your place to take your consequences for your sin, and He was buried. But He did not stay in the grave – He arose the third day and proved victory – victory over sin – your sin and mine. Start on the path of wisdom today by calling on Christ alone for your salvation.
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”