As I have been going through Proverbs, I am confronted with the biblical reality that if we are going to claim to be wise, if we are going to walk in wisdom truly, we need to be humbly listening. I would argue that our true level of wisdom is not how wise we claim to be or think we are, but our true level of wisdom corresponds directly to two factors—our level of humility and our willingness to listen to God and others.
When we understand that the bible clearly teaches that wisdom is from the Lord. And that the wise are always open to listening to others, even if those others are giving them rebuke. We begin to see how important walking in humility before the Lord and others and being open to hearing people out becomes. If we desire wisdom, we need to ask the Lord for it, James 1:5, but we also need to, by going to again to Jesus Christ, aim to rid ourselves of pride, arrogance, and vain conceit. We need to be seeking after and living out humility in Jesus Christ.
So then, to walk in wisdom and gain wisdom, we need to understand three fundamental truths.
One - Wisdom is from the Lord. No other source. Not experience, not education, not study, not knowledge... It's from the Lord. We often mix up wisdom with knowledge. Education and study gain you knowledge. Education and study constantly aims to combine a whole bunch of people's experiences, synthesize them and create a basic understanding/knowledge of the greater topic. Personal experience is also knowledge. It is one's personal learning of knowledge on a particular topic through their experience. This knowledge is limited more to the individual and their specific experience, but it is also clearly knowledge. Wisdom is neither of these, it is from the Lord.
Two - Humility is needed to walk in wisdom. The Lord gives wisdom to the humble but also the one who desires wisdom needs humility to grow in it. Proud and arrogant people seldom are in the right heart or head space to listen and grow. The proud and arrogant are also likely unwilling to seek the Lord (Psalms 10:4) and often are not accepted by the Lord until they are willing to humble themselves before Him (Proverbs 16:5, James 4:6, Luke 1:5, Isaiah 2:12).
Three - A person who seeks to walk in wisdom must learn to listen.
Here are some scriptures on these truths
Proverbs1:5 - let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:22 - "How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
Proverbs 1:33 - but whoever listens to me (wisdom) will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Proverbs 2:1-6 - My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding
Proverbs 3:5-7 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
There are so many more, but here are some new testament ones, note the unity of scripture on this topic.
James 3:17 - But the wisdom that comes from heaven is, first of all, pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Proverbs 13:10 - Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Eph 5:15-16 - Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
I pray this challenges you and encourages you to be seeking the Lord and praying for God's wisdom. Let Jesus Christ, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, mature you deeper into Him and may you grow in humility and the knowledge of Him who called you out of darkness and into His glorious light.
"Lord Jesus, we ask for your wisdom from above. Help us grow in humility as we listen and are open to learning from You and others. Help us walk in Godly Wisdom that through us by the leading of the Holy Spirit, we might be your hands and feet and take our place in your ongoing work to save the lost and mature the saved."
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