Now that we have considered the appeal of wisdom and can now appreciate the reasons why we should pursue wisdom, we turn our attention to acquiring wisdom. Once we know we need wisdom, how do we obtain it? The book of Proverbs addresses this question for us as well.
The Proper Approach to Acquiring Wisdom
In order to gain wisdom, we must have the right foundation. This means we start in the right place; and have the right mindset, right outlook, and right teachers.
The place in which we must start if we hope to acquire wisdom is in the fear of the Lord. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (1:7). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (9:10). Without fearing God, there is no reason to listen to His instruction or follow after His wisdom. There is no motivation to do anything but what we desire. But if we fear the Lord, we will be motivated by what He desires.
The mindset we must possess starts with having good sense. This means that one appreciates wisdom and is willing to do what is necessary to acquire it. This is the opposite of the fool who disregards wisdom and does not want to do what is necessary to obtain it. Solomon asks, “Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, when he has no sense?” (17:16). If one has “no sense,” there is nothing he can give in order to gain wisdom. And even if he were able to somehow “buy wisdom,” he would not know what to do with it once he had it. One must “apply [his] mind to…knowledge” (22:17; cf. 23:12) if he expects to grow in wisdom.
The outlook that we must have is one that expects continued growth throughout a lifetime. Our goal in obtaining wisdom will not be fully realized in young adulthood. Is it possible for a young man to have obtained a certain degree of wisdom in various aspects of life? Certainly. But we must be of the mind that we will continue to grow in wisdom at every stage in life. “The glory of young men is their strength, and the honor of old men is their gray hair” (20:29). The “gray hair” symbolizes wisdom that one has gained through a lifetime of experience. “A gray head is a crown of glory; it is found in the way of righteousness” (16:31). While young men might glory in their strength, they must be making efforts to grow in wisdom, even in their youth, so that when old age comes, they may be wise as God wants them to be.
The teachers from whom we must learn if we hope to gain wisdom must be wise themselves. “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (13:20). We cannot expect to become wise in the ways of God if we surround ourselves with those who will influence us in foolish and wicked ways. The wise man asks, “Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, to make you know the certainty of the words of truth that you may correctly answer him who sent you?” (22:20-21). The instruction from the wise man was designed to be taken and used by the one who was taught. We must have the right teachers – those who will instruct us of God’s wisdom – if we hope to obtain this wisdom for ourselves. But what if one has no wise counselor to teach him? Is he then doomed to never being able to obtain wisdom? No, he can still obtain wisdom; but he must reject those who would direct him in foolish and wicked ways and follow the wise counsel found in the word of God.
And so, with the proper foundation, we have instructions to acquire wisdom.
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil” (3:1-7).
“My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil” (4:20-27).
The passages above emphasize the fact that wisdom is obtained through instruction that is passed from one to another – in this case, from a father to a son. We often talk about how wisdom comes with experience. This is true, but not with experience alone. Wisdom is rooted in knowledge (3:1; 4:20). Knowledge is based upon what God has revealed (3:5-6). This knowledge of God’s will must be bound about one’s neck (3:3) and kept in one’s heart (4:21), “for from it flow the springs of life” (4:23). With this knowledge, one turns from evil (3:7) and obeys the instructions of God (3:1).
Our determination to acquire wisdom must be wholehearted – trusting in God “with all [our] heart” and acknowledging Him “in all [our] ways” (3:5-6). We must remain focused, with our “eyes [looking] directly ahead” (4:25). We must be careful in our walk, watching “the paths of [our] feet” (4:26). We must be upright in all things, not turning “to the right nor to the left,” and keeping ourselves “from evil” (4:27).
