Get Wisdom

– Ponderings:

Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget nor turn away
from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom,
and whatever else you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
(Proverbs 4:5-8)

I’m still reading the Book of Proverbs this morning. When I read the Bible, I usually read from one verse to the next because understanding the context is critical to interpreting meaning. Bible verses don’t often stand alone, and quoting one isolated verse to support a position can twist its meaning. That’s not true, however, with most of the Proverbs. That’s a long way of saying, I’ve been jumping around a bit – and today I got stuck pondering these verses from Proverbs 4.

The beginning of wisdom is this … get wisdom. This sounds, to me, like circular reasoning. Before you have wisdom, get wisdom. From where? The WisdomRUs store? Then it says, “And whatever else you get, get insight.” I’ll take an order of wisdom and a side of insight to go, please. What is the author trying to tell us?

In our world, information and opinion seem abundant but wisdom and insight seem scarce. Information flows freely to us online, but rarely do we know the truth of what we’re reading. Opinions are shared without much thought to nuance or to the understanding that not everything is as black and white as we would wish. Wisdom and understanding take time and require that we listen to other points of view.

The pursuit of wisdom begins with a conscious decision to value it. The scripture urges us to “get wisdom” and “get understanding,” highlighting that these are not passive acquisitions but require intentional effort. In our daily lives, this might mean setting aside time for reflection, seeking counsel from those who are wise, or immersing ourselves in the study of God’s Word.

Wisdom is personified as a guardian and a source of honor. When we “love her,” she watches over us, providing protection and guidance and acting as a moral compass, helping us navigate difficult situations with integrity and discernment. When we do speak, wisdom guides what we say and how we say it.

None of this is easy. Our natural inclination is to speak quickly and make our opinions known. We want to be heard. And, as followers of Jesus and people of faith, there are times when our voices for justice, equality, and love need to be heard. We are not called to be silent. But we are reminded to let wisdom and insight guide our words. Difficult words for difficult times.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gifts of wisdom and understanding. Help me seek them earnestly and cherish them. May your wisdom protect me and lead me to live in a way that honors you. Amen.