Wisdom, the Principal Thing

PROVERBS 1:1-5; 3:13-18; 9:9, 10; JAMES 1:5

GOLDEN TEXT: “Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”—Proverbs 4:7

THE Book of Proverbs was written by Solomon. It is styled “The proverbs of Solomon the Son of David, king of Israel.” Solomon ascended the throne of Israel as a young man. With humility he prayed for wisdom. His prayer was answered and much of his wisdom is reflected in the Book of Proverbs evidently written before he deflected from his faithfulness in worshiping and serving the true God. The value of wisdom occupied a very important place in Solomon’s mind, as is evidenced by the fact that early in his reign as king when the Lord asked him to make a request, he asked for wisdom and understanding, rather than riches, that he might rule Israel wisely and justly.

Solomon became renowned for his wisdom, and the Book of Proverbs reveals that he well deserved the reputation which he gained. True, we look upon the Proverbs as one of the inspired books of the Bible, and we know that Solomon’s wisdom was a special gift of God to him, yet he was a fitting instrument through which these nuggets of truth relative to practically every walk of life, as well as the divine plan, are set forth for our instruction.

The opening verses of the book lay down a most fundamental rule for the attaining of understanding. Verse 5 sums up the thought thus, “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” How true! One of the outstanding manifestations of true wisdom is the willingness to listen to the counsels of others. A person who goes through life disregarding the viewpoints of others, who insists always upon being heard and is never willing to listen, lives in a very small world—the world of his own conclusions and restricted thoughts.

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,” writes Solomon. Personifying wisdom, he writes, “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” But how may we be sure of attaining wisdom? Where is the fountain source of this most precious treasure? Failure to discover the answer to this question has resulted in the vast majority of searchers failing to find “her” whose “ways are ways of pleasantness.”

It is always possible to learn a few things from our fellow men. Man, by comparing his understanding with other men, can increase his knowledge to some extent. But wisdom thus attained is limited. The real source of true understanding is the Creator, our Heavenly Father. In his Word is treasured up that which “maketh wise the simple.” But alas how few there are who are willing to accept the authority of the Bible, yet by scorning the marvelous wisdom set forth in its sacred pages they keep their own understanding stunted and go through life without knowing why they live and what their final destiny will be.

And among those who profess to have confidence in the Bible there are many who show a disposition to teach the Book instead of being taught by it. It is as though they would tell the Lord what his plan ought to be, rather than being willing to listen to the instructions of his Word as to what he has designed for them and for the race.

Our relationship to God is in this respect similar to our relationship to one another. Just as we can be poor listeners when in the presence of our fellows, so we can be poor listeners to what God may have to say to us. In the first case, the result is barrenness of understanding which could be ours, but in the latter case the result is tragic, for it means that we close our minds to the riches of knowledge and understanding concerning God and his plan which cometh down from above.

The Apostle James writes, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.” (James 1:5) We are not to suppose from this that the unconsecrated, those who do not profess to serve God and are not devoted to the doing of his will, may go to him requesting wisdom and have their prayers favorably answered. The “all men” to whom wisdom is given upon request to God must be construed to mean all of those whose chief concern in life is to know and to do God’s will, his servants—in this Gospel age, the footstep followers of the Master.

The wisdom which God gives in answer to the prayers of his faithful people is a wisdom which is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17) Only those fully consecrated are prepared to receive such wisdom, and only these are able to appreciate its value, to know that it is a reflection of the character of God, a revealing of the principles which govern all his purposes toward mankind.

God could grant his people wisdom without the necessity of their praying for it, but he knows that prayer is in itself the best preparation to receive his gifts. Only those who truly feel their need of the wisdom from above, and sense that need so keenly that they prostrate themselves in prayer before God in humble petition for it are of the right heart condition to be blessed by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.

QUESTIONS:

Why do many fail to obtain understanding?

What is the true source of all wisdom?

Who has the privilege of praying for wisdom?

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