The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honour you if you embrace her.
Proverbs 4:7-8
We‘re going through very odd times. Not far from all of us, in hospitals all over the land, there are desperate battles going on for people’s lives. We need to pray for those who are involved, both patients and health workers. Yet for so many of us we’re at home, living life at a different pace. What do you want to do with this special time the Lord has given you?
These verses remind us that our God invites us to “get wisdom” and “get understanding”. It’s a very stark invitation with hardly any embellishments. Could it be at this time that the Lord wants us to become wiser? More perceptive, more prudent, more sensible, more skilful and competent, more discerning and insightful and so much more.
In the Old Testament the word for wisdom is used 145 times and the word for understanding a further 38 times. It must be important if God uses it so many times. When so many of us have precious time, surely wisdom and understanding must be top of our “bucket list”!
But how do you get these jewels of wisdom and understanding?
In Proverbs Chapter 2 verses 3-6 we read:
Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Here is a very good place to start. We need to cry to the Lord for wisdom and search for it as though we were looking for treasure or a lost key or password – we desperately need it. We also need to treasure wisdom and hold it tightly in our hearts and aim to get it – “though it cost you all that you have”.
In these verses we’re not only told how to be wise, but we also have the most wonderful promise from our kind God. As we seek, He will give us wisdom and understanding! Let us therefore use this time wisely and seek the Lord. There is nothing more precious, for this wisdom will lead you to our Lord Jesus Christ – wisdom personified.
David Norbury