May 31, 2020 | Books of the Bible | Proverbs by Jason Hall
Proverbs 2:1–5
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 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. (ESV)
Wisdom is a choice.
No one can force us to receive good counsel or sage advice. We can be hard-headed sometimes, slow to listen and quick to judgment. Pay attention, though, to some of the verbs used or referenced in these verses:
Receive.
Treasure.
Pay attention.
Incline.
Call out.
Seek.
Search.
All of the actions referenced above require intentional effort. Wisdom is offered to us, but we also must take it. We cannot manufacture it ourselves, but we must make room for it in our lives and hearts. Only after we have received, paid attention, and sought will the commands of God shape our minds and hearts to be more like His.
Notice the important "if, then" statement that brackets the whole of these verses. Begin reading in verse 1, and you see it quickly: "My son, if..." If we receive (1), treasure (1), call out (3), seek (4) and search (4), we come to verse 5: "then..." Then what? Then we understand the fear of the Lord (5) and find the knowledge of God (5).
I'll sum it up like this: Pursuing wisdom is active, not passive, and we must pursue it where it can be found: The Word of God.
Wisdom is a choice.
Consider
- Does your daily routine indicate that you treasure and seek wisdom or relaxation? Knowledge of God, or friendship with the world?
- What one change can you make to your daily habits, however small, that will help you seek wisdom more faithfully?
Pray
- Pray for wisdom and ask the Lord to help you receive it with faith (James 1:5-8).
- Pray for a desire to put your words into action, and not just make empty promises to God.
