God's Prescription for Attaining His Wisdom

Proverbs 2: 1-6 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,

turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,

  and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

How many pages of history and theology have been devoted to trying to understand the will of God for our lives? How many times have we sought to find His perfect pleasing will in our own lives? We often speak of wisdom and knowledge as being somehow interchangeable but they are not. The definition of wisdom is:

Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action

Knowledge is a part of wisdom, but only a part. We often times know what is right in our lives and still do not do it. We possess the knowledge but do not act with wisdom according to that knowledge. It is when the knowledge of what is true or right is partnered with just judgment resulting in an action, that we have true wisdom. And whose wisdom do we seek? Are we busy seeking the wisdom of man or the wisdom of God? The wisdom of man is at odds with the wisdom of God. The world embraces self-help, not reliance upon God. The world values scientific observation, not faith. How often do we embrace the wisdom of the world only to see it crash down around us? Unfortunately, we usually seek the wisdom of God when our backs are against the wall; from following the wisdom of man. If only we would seek Him first and always!

Our key verses above spell out the prescription God has provided for us for hearing directly from Him and the wisdom He has for us in our daily walk through this world. Verses 1-4 contain the elements we need to follow and 5-6 is the result. Working backwards through the verses, we see verses five and six indicate that true wisdom, what we desperately need in our lives, comes only from God; directly from His mouth into our lives! Note that the Proverb distinguishes between knowledge and understanding. It is the understanding that allows knowledge to transcend into wisdom. I am sure we can think of people we know who possess plenty of knowledge but not a lot of wisdom. In the world it may be described as having book smarts but not street smarts. And how much is wisdom worth? The Book of Job describes the value:

"But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. The deep says, 'It is not in me'; the sea says, 'It is not with me.' It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. "Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air. Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.' God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. Job 28: 12-24

So if we want the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, we need to follow the prescription God has outlined for us. The Job verses reveal how valuable it is and why. God understands all; He views the ends of the earth and sees everything. He has seen all time beloved. Man often cannot see more than the next step he is trying to take in vain.

The first step in the prescription of God's wisdom is faith. Verse one above tells us that we need to accept God's words. That sounds simple enough but how many people in the world do not accept the words of God almighty? What was your acceptance level before He saved you? Even within the realm of believers we see compromise when it comes to the Word of God as many practice "salad bar theology." This is where some pick and choose what they like from Scripture but ignore what makes them uncomfortable. That is not faith; it is making it up as you go along. If we know that God contains all knowledge and understanding and is the only true source of wisdom; shouldn't we follow what His Word says and not what makes us feel good? Step one is not just faith to believe in His Word but also that we study it. The verse also says we need to "store up" the commands within ourselves. The Psalmist reminds us:

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you Psalm 119:11

We study not only to avoid sin but to engage the enemy when he comes against us. Remember when Jesus Himself faced temptation He always answered the enemy with, "it is written." The enemy of your soul is the father of lies but your Father is the source of all truth. That truth is in His Word and we must believe it by faith and store up his wisdom in our hearts.

Secondly, we need to make a commitment to our faith. Verse two expresses that we need to turn our ear to wisdom and apply our heart to understanding. This verse indicates that these are conscious choices we have to make. There are many distractions in this life and the world we live in. There are many things competing for our attention and our time. It is easy to get caught up in the economy instead of remembering that He is our provider. It is easy to worry about the medical report instead of remembering that He is our healer. It is easy to feel defeated by this life instead of remembering that He is our banner and that the battle is the Lords. We need to make a conscious decision to turn our ear away from the emptiness of the world and turn it toward the wisdom of God. When problems come against us, it seems our first reaction is to ask everyone except God. We ask our friends, our families, or our counselor. Eventually we might get around to God. No matter how wise your friends are, they are not God. They do not see all time like God. Sure God gives us friends to rely upon for Godly counsel, but don't forget to leave God out of the equation! Do not apply your heart to the things of this world, as The Book of Romans teaches us:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

So, not only must we have faith in His Word and store it up within ourselves, but we also need to consciously choose to make a commitment to that faith. God chose us and we need to choose Him; especially in a world that is fighting for our attention and time.

The third step is prayer. Verse three says that we also need to call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding! It is God that we need to be crying out to. This is putting feet to our faith. If you say you believe but never talk to God, how can you possibly expect to hear Him and His wisdom? It will only be imparted unto us through an active relationship with God and that relationship is fostered through prayer. This is the model of Jesus Himself:

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7

God wants to impart His wisdom to us. He desires a relationship with us. It is through the relationship that we can hear from God. It is where we receive the understanding we are sorely lacking. The story of Joseph is a good example of these principles. Joseph was sold into slavery at the age of 17 by his own brothers. He would serve in the house of Potiphar and there rise in importance only to have Potiphar's wife betray him and falsely accuse him of rape which landed him in prison. He would stay in prison for close to a decade for something he never even did. His entire youth taken from him and when he correctly interpreted the Cupbearer's dream all he asked was that he remember him to Pharaoh when he was restored. The Cupbearer also forgot Joseph and it cost him two more years in prison. But at the right time, God's time; Joseph was released and rose to be the Prime Minister of all Egypt. Through the wisdom imparted to Joseph by God, he was able to plan for a seven year famine. Through this wisdom the nation of Israel survived when it otherwise would have been obliterated, as well as Egypt. Where did Joseph get such mighty wisdom? Pharaoh knew when he chose him to be Prime Minister:

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." Genesis 41: 39-40

Joseph had plenty of distractions from his relationship with God. He could have turned his ear to the anger, resentment, and bitterness for being sold into slavery by his brothers. He could have applied his heart to the desire for revenge upon Potiphar's wife or the Cupbearer. Instead Joseph turned his ear to God. Each circumstance only bringing him closer to God; developing a relationship with Him. Learning to hear from God and His wisdom. His relationship was fostered in prison and ours is also often formed in our darkest hours. When the distractions of the world are minimized by the pressing need we have for God in our lives. We can either turn to God or away from God. Joseph turned toward him. Eventually Joseph would be able to put into words the bigger picture. His brothers, years later, were still worried that Joseph would seek revenge but Joseph shows us that he truly understood the wisdom behind the plan of God:

But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50: 19-20

No anger. No bitterness. No resentment. How many feel they could have done the same after losing 12 years of your life to a wilderness not of your own creation? Joseph was not superhuman. Remember, he was just a 17 year old boy when it all started. But he learned the hear God and understand His wisdom and plan. He developed that in prison. He was able to develop it because he valued it.

And that is the last step in the prescription for the wisdom of God. We must value the attaining of that wisdom in our lives. In modern America we seem to often value the wrong things. We value success, fame, and money. Things of the world. Things of the flesh. Jesus warned us about storing up riches on earth:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6: 19-21

Where are you storing up treasure beloved? Are you looking for His wisdom as you would silver; or are you seeking the silver of this world? What is the hidden treasure of your heart? Does it have value in this world or is it eternal? Eternal value does not fade with time. It does not rust. His wisdom is forever.

God wants your heart beloved and He wants it fixed on Him. Remember He knows your needs and will fulfill them. Jesus taught us:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6: 33

Seek Him first always. The wisdom of God is more valuable than anything we might pursue here on earth. We sing songs about living in victory but the sad truth is many Christians have anything but victory in their lives. We can get distracted by the world too easily beloved. We can seek the wisdom of man before the wisdom of God. Sometimes God might seem far off but the truth is that He is always at our right hand. God has given us a prescription for attaining His wisdom; this great commodity of eternal value. It takes steps of faith, commitment, prayer and value. Our faith in His word must be tempered by storing it up on the inside of us. Our commitment must be a conscious decision away from the things of the world and onto the things of God. Prayer is putting feet to our faith and developing the relationship of Joseph; where God can speak His wisdom into our lives. Lastly, we have to truly value what we claim to seek. God deserves the preeminent spot in our lives. If there is something more important to you; something you value more than God, then that is where you will draw your wisdom from. Choose the eternal today. Seek Him first and value Him above all things. Amen.

Reverend Anthony Wade February 5, 2009