Another step in acquiring wisdom is that we must learn. The knowledge that leads to understanding is available, both through the written word of God and the wise counsel that we receive from others. But the mere fact that knowledge is available does not mean we will automatically obtain it. We must learn it for ourselves.
If we are to learn, we must seek to learn. That is, we must have a desire to learn.
“The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly” (15:14).
One who is intelligent, who will attain to wisdom, will not wait for knowledge to come to him. He will seek knowledge. We often talk about wisdom coming through experience. This is true, but it does not come by experience alone. We must seek after knowledge that has been revealed from God and not be like the fool who is content with folly.
“The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (18:15).
We have already discussed the importance of listening. This is certainly found in this verse as well. But more than just listening, this verse emphasizes the need to seek after wise counsel, rather than waiting to stumble upon it. The mind will acquire knowledge, leading to wisdom, but only after the ear seeks knowledge.
“The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, turning the wicked to ruin” (21:12).
The one who is righteous (and wise) will consider the house of the wicked. He will see the trouble and hardship that comes as a consequence of wickedness. He will observe the “ruin” of the wicked. The King James Version emphasizes the fact that the wicked will judged by God for their evil: “God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.” One who is wise will learn, not just by listening to or studying from the word of God and those who teach it, but by observing the way of the wicked. We must learn from the mistakes of others because we will never be able to make them all ourselves.
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Having the desire to learn is essential. But some may wonder if they will actually be able to obtain wisdom, or if the pursuit of wisdom will be an exercise of futility. While the pursuit of worldly wisdom is futile (Ecclesiastes 1:17-18; 2:12-17), we are assured that we will be able to learn and gain divine wisdom.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul” (2:6-10).
The wisdom that we are considering is the wisdom that comes from above. Because it is from Almighty God, it is able to be distributed according to His will without hindrance. James later wrote, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). This prayer that James mentioned is not answered miraculously as it was with Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-12). Instead, it is answered as we follow the divinely prescribed way of obtaining wisdom, as the book of Proverbs discusses – through learning and practice of God’s word. When we follow God’s way of obtaining wisdom, we can be assured that we will grow in knowledge and acquire wisdom. Solomon says, “You will discern,” and, “Wisdom will enter your heart.” Wisdom says, “I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me” (8:17).
“Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning” (9:9).
When one begins growing in wisdom and understanding, as long as he continues on with the same mentality and desire to grow, he “will increase his learning” and “be still wiser.” Growing in wisdom is a process that continues throughout one’s lifetime.
“The naive inherit foolishness, but the sensible are crowned with knowledge” (14:18).
There are two groups of people who lack understanding: those who desire to gain understanding (described in this verse as “sensible”) and those who have no interest in understanding (those who are willfully “naive”). Those who remain without knowledge will “inherit foolishness” and receive the consequences that come with that. But those who are “sensible” and apply themselves to understanding the will of God will be “crowned with knowledge.”
“Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, but in the heart of fools it is made known” (14:33).
Once we have understanding, which we are told we will obtain when we pursue it according to the Lord’s will, we will acquire wisdom as well. Once we acquire it, wisdom will rest in our hearts where it will be manifested in our daily lives. In the same way, the fool’s lack of wisdom will also be manifested. In the second part of this verse, the King James Version says, “That which is in the midst of fools is made known.”
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However, though there is a promise that we will learn if we seek to learn, the book of Proverbs also teaches us that there are some who will not learn. Let us notice the reasons for this.
“Wise men store up knowledge, but with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand” (10:14).
Again, those who act wisely will gain knowledge. However, if someone will not quit talking and “revealing his own mind” (18:2) long enough to listen, he will not learn (cf. 10:8).
“A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge is easy to one who has understanding” (14:6).
This verse talks about one who “seeks wisdom” but “finds none.” Though we have already noticed how the desire to learn is essential (15:14; 18:15), the desire alone is not enough. One may claim to desire wisdom, and will therefore seek after it, but if he is a “scoffer,” he will have no regard for the instruction that would lead him to acquiring wisdom. Therefore, though he seeks for it in some sense, he will not obtain wisdom.
“The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, but the foolishness of fools is deceit” (14:8).
Foolishness deceives one into thinking that he is actually wise. Foolishness is presented as wisdom and is regarded as such by many in the world. Yet Paul said, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). In this state of delusion in which one believes that what is foolish is actually wise, he will not listen to or learn something that is contrary to the “wisdom” that he already knows.
“Like legs which are useless to the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.” “Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools” (26:7, 9).
The proverb delivered by the wise counselor is able to help the one who has understanding. However, the fool, though he may know the proverb even to the point of being able to repeat it, will not get any benefit from it. It is not that he does not know it (it is in his mouth; he is able to speak it), it is that he does not understand it and cannot apply it properly. To him, the proverb is as legs to a lame man. Though he has them, he cannot use them properly, if at all. As he seeks wisdom, which is pleasant like a rose, he comes away without the rose, but only the thorn stuck in his hand instead. Because he lacks understanding, he will not acquire wisdom and the vain pursuit of it will only bring harm to himself.
