TRUE WISDOM

“These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.” Proverbs 1:1-2 NLT

     The Old Testament tells the story of Solomon, son of King David, who sought great wisdom from God to rightly judge the people of Israel.  We read that God not only blessed him with great wisdom, but because of His unselfish request, gave him all that he did not ask for as well; wealth and material possessions. (2 Chronicles 1) Throughout his life, Solomon experienced many things which I suppose could be considered experimentation or a flirting with worldly behavior that was not pleasing to God, however, he always came back from the edge saying that wisdom is truly found in God alone; that everything else is a “chasing after the wind”.¹  If you think about that phrase, you realize exactly what Solomon is saying.  Essentially, what he is saying is that anything apart from God is unattainable and useless.  Just when you think you have it, it slips right through your fingers and is gone; like “chasing after the wind”.  You may chase after it, but you will never catch it.  It goes where it wills.   It’s not a solid, so it cannot be gotten hold of.

     A wise man isn’t void of weaknesses.  He is not exempt from failure or frailty.  Wise men down through the ages have defied logic with some of the personal decisions they have made.  However, what truly made them wise was their ability to see the folly of their own ways.  That is a sign of true wisdom, in my humble opinion.  Listening to God for both instruction and correction.  As believers in Christ we must be willing to make corrections to our own thought processes through introspection, self-assessment and self-correction as enabled by the Holy Spirit.   

     When we approach the book of Proverbs, we need to take seriously the first 7 verses in particular, for they define the reason for reading it in the first place.  If you seek wisdom, discipline and understanding of insightful words, read Solomon’s proverbs.  Don’t read them quickly, scanning them as if to meet a daily reading requirement.  Read them slowly, line by line, word by word.  Soak in what is being said.  It’s there for a specific purpose; for your wisdom and knowledge.  If you rip through it as if in a race, you’ll miss the nougats of truth that are lying within.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

¹ “I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind.” Ecclesiastes 1:14 and

“But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless--like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.” Ecclesiastes 2:11