Proverbs 4

The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

Proverbs 4:7

Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! (Message Bible)

Prov. 8; 23:22-23; Ps. 111:10; Prov. 1:7; Micah 6:8-9; Luke 2:52; 1 Cor. 1:20; James 1:2 (2-8)

God clearly makes it known that our wisdom is but mere foolishness when compared with His own wisdom. When compared with God, the smartest and most wise of all people cannot, and should not, compare themselves with even the foolishness of God. The Bible also tells us that if any of us are to lack wisdom to any degree, simply ask God and He will generously and graciously give us wisdom, if we seek in true honesty (James 1:5-6).

Solomon, in all his glory, as it may seem up front, asked for nothing more than the wisdom and knowledge to lead God’s people (1 Kings 3:9-14). In response and in return to Solomon’s request, God answered and delivered; God granted Solomon his request, and Solomon lived to be the wisest person the face of this earth has ever known. Note that the Bible says wise here, not the smartest smart! Just kidding. However, there is a downfall to all of this, Solomon, in all of his wisdom, ended up acting out as one of the stupidest people to ever live. Bound as we are by God, men, to take one woman for a wife, Solomon took 700 wives and princesses, and 300 concubines from the nations and people in which God Himself commanded His people Israel not to touch. Though Solomon had been given all the wisdom and knowledge he asked for, he had little to no self-control. Problem. Red Flag. Psalm 111:10 says, “The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”

Solomon stepped out of God’s light for a time in his life and into the darkness of the world; which light are you standing in currently? If you have stepped into the darkness, yet you still love God, there is hope yet, a newness of life waiting to be experienced, for every person. Jesus is that opportunity and experience! Micah the prophet once said, and powerfully resonates still today, “He has told you, O man, what is Good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

REFLECTION : What is God saying to you through todays reading?

Through all of your knowledge and wisdom that you have gained to this point in life, do you ever have those moments where you say to yourself, “Why did I do that?”, or, “What was I thinking?”

We all have moments in life that we regret, however, we can learn much knowledge and wisdom from those moments.  Think of a time that you regret having experienced, and write down as many learning points as you can see and learn from that experience.

If you feel at all distant from God today, yet in your heart you live and cherish all of who God is, ask Him to forgive you, tell Him you believe in Him, and ask Jesus again to become Your salvation today!