The Word of God puts a high premium on wisdom. Three times in the book of Proverbs we are told to "get wisdom."
Proverbs 4:5
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Proverbs 16:16
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!
In a fourth passage, we are told rather pointedly what kind of person is not interested in getting wisdom.
Proverbs 17:16
Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?
Clearly wisdom is something special in the eyes of God. Yet we must be very sure we understand what kind of wisdom we're talking about. The book of James in the New Testament lets us know that there are two very different kinds of wisdom running around, from two very different sources.
James 3:13-18.
13 ¶ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
There are two kinds of wisdom, then: the earthly, fleshy, devilish kind, and the wisdom that comes from God, from above. In Proverbs we will be dealing with God's kind of wisdom; the wisdom that has God as its source.
God makes it clear that He doesn't think much of wisdom that leaves Him out. Think for a moment: doesn't that describe most of what we call "wisdom"?
I Corinthians 1:18-21.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
In our quest for wisdom, then, we need to make hold out for the wisdom that means something to God. Accept no cheap, earth-grown substitutes!
How do you get wisdom? The opening verses of the book of Proverbs make it very clear that one of the purposes of this book is to impart wisdom to us.
Proverbs 1:1-6.
1 ¶ The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young--
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--
6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
From these verses we see that wisdom is much more than "being smart." Wisdom involves:
• Understanding in depth the things you are being taught;
• Discipline or self-control;
• "Horse sense";
• Doing what is right;
• Doing what is fair;
• Learning to see beneath the surface of things, as opposed to taking everything at face value;
• Maintaining a willingness to learn even after you know;
• Understanding difficult sayings.
The book of Proverbs is designed to teach you all these things! We could accurately call it "Wisdom 101" -- a foundational course in wisdom.
Our first lesson on wisdom is given immediately.
Proverbs 1:7.
7 ¶ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
This lesson is brutally simple and sobering: Your journey begins with the fear of the Lord, with treating God as God, giving Him the awe and respect and reverence He deserves. Until you come to this place, all else is a waste of time.
What if you decide, "I really don't need this! I can just live my life the way I want to!" Your attitude makes it clear what kind of person you are: a fool. It's bad enough when another human being calls you a fool; but when God Almighty, the creator of the heavens and the earth, your maker, who knows you inside and out, calls you a fool, you're in trouble! He's hardly making a mistake!
So, what's your attitude toward wisdom? Is getting it top priority in your life? Are you willing to do whatever God says do in order to get it?
Our second lesson in wisdom is equally simple: Listen to your parents.
Proverbs 1:8-9.
8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
It's important to remember that the second lesson is subordinate to the first. The Word of God stands above everyone else's word. If there's a conflict, it's the Word of God that stands. Short of that, though, God's counsel is, listen to your parents' instruction. That implies more than just politely paying attention; it means carrying out what they say do. God wants you to use their wisdom while you're getting some of your own!
With these two lessons under our belt, we are on our way to growing in the wisdom that comes from God. One word of warning is in order, though. Do not think that you will get wisdom merely by reading Proverbs!
James 1:22-25.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
It is only when you consistently DO what God's Word says do -- when you change your lifestyle to bring it into conformity with the Word and will of God -- that you are wise. Until then, you are only fooling yourself.