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Over the past few weeks in our series, we have learned that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Wisdom consistently cries out in every area of our lives, and we must make a choice to receive it and walk in it. The wisdom of God gives us practical skills associated with understanding and living a successful life. It gives the ability to discern what is true, what is ethically right, and the ability to use knowledge in different situations.

This past week Pastor Marcus shared with you about the blessing of wisdom. There is something in Proverbs 8 that I want to point back to.

When the Lord spoke to me about this series there was one main point that I believe he wanted to convey to His people.

Wisdom is not merely the acquiring of knowledge or diluted to just good principles for living. Wisdom is a person.

Notice in verse 12 that the context shifts from talking about wisdom to introducing wisdom. It says, I, wisdom, dwell with prudence. He begins to explain the nature of wisdom. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth. Notice that it says these are things that I hate.

It goes on to say in vs. 14 counsel in mine, and sound wisdom. I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes’ rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth. I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me. He is the source of riches and honor, enduring riches and righteousness. His fruit is better than gold and choice silver. He traverses the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.

The description of these verses in Proverbs 8 are introducing a person and that person is the Lord. Wisdom is not merely gaining knowledge and learning how to use it well. It is about relationship and walking with the Lord. As you walk with Him he reveals to you how to do life well through the Holy Spirit. We need to learn to walk with wisdom throughout our lives. The focus is not behavior modification. It is about knowing Him. When we know Him and walk with Him it changes how we live.

The book of Proverbs takes us on a journey to help us live principled. The essence of the principles produces kingdom life and maturity in the one who understands and applies them.

Proverbs 1-9 poetically argue the advantage of wisdom.
Proverbs 10-18 contrast wisdom vs. folly.
Proverbs 19-24 give life principles.
Proverbs 25-29 show wickedness, righteousness, and similarities.
Proverbs 30-31 give miscellaneous advice.

As I began to seriously pursue my walk with the Lord in 2005 this passage stood out to me. I grew up in a Christian home and new about the Lord, but in reality, until that time I didn’t really know Him. After I committed my life to Christ, I came across this verse, and began to consistently ask the Lord for wisdom. I remember not knowing what to do or where to begin. As I prayed and asked for wisdom the Lord highlighted these verses to me.

What struck me as I read these verses in Proverbs 8 is this: I had to make a personal choice to hear from him. The first several chapters of proverbs had told me that wisdom was crying out to me, but hearing wisdom wasn’t an automatic. I would have to choose to hear instruction and be wise.

The word hear in this verse is not simply audible hearing where the sound of words is going into my ear. The word hear used in the passage references a hearing that corresponds directly to obedience. To hear instruction and be wise means to hear and obey.

I remember finding it interesting that hearing instruction and being wise was immediately followed by the statement, and do not disdain it. The KJV uses the word refuse. It is possible to hear from the Lord and refuse his instruction. We can reject wisdom through disobedience.

Why would we reject wisdom? The word of God always reveals the ungodly nature of the old man. It illuminates and confronts the evil in my own heart. When it does, I have a choice to make. Will I respond to the word of the Lord with humility allowing His wisdom to change me? Or will I choose to keep on living in opposition to it? Our response to or rejection of the wisdom of God has specific outcomes. One leads to folly, and the other to abundant life. The passage goes on to say that the man who listens is blessed.

Look at the posture of the one listening though. Watching daily at my gates and waiting at the post of my doors. The one who hears has an attentive posture to the Lord.

In essence they are leaning in. They are waiting at the post of the door and watching by the gates. Their eyes are fixed on the instruction of the Lord. I said earlier wisdom is a person, vs. 35 says, whoever finds me finds life. This life is referring to the divine power of God at work in people. The life of God brings this divine energy and expression to us through the inner working of the Holy Spirit.

All of this is predicated on my ability to hear and obey. Another principle that made a mark on my life is the principle of integrity.

A person with integrity is one possesses the quality of being honest and has strong moral principles, moral uprightness. They live from a place of being whole and undivided. They are sound and consistent.

The one who walks with integrity walks securely. It is seen in an uncompromising nature. The benefit of integrity is that it will guide you. Doing what is right because its right gives you a sure foundation for living. You won’t have to hide anything or keep secrets. You won’t have to lie. It makes life a little bit simpler because no matter where you are or what you are doing you are the same person.

The opposite is also true. The one who lacks integrity will pervert his way and will see destruction. To pervert something means to divert from the true intent or purpose, a change to something worse; a turning or applying to a wrong end or use.

Perversion is a deviation from righteousness. This can be seen in a wide range of areas like sexuality, this not only refers to specific acts, but also the nature of the intended relationship by God to something alternate.

Today culturally we see it in homosexuality, adultery, sex outside of marriage, or consuming pornography. These pervert sexuality from the way God intended.

Proverbs speaks of perverted speech. Our mouths were created to worship, praise, pray, encourage, and speak truth. We can pervert speech through speaking curses, gossip, using foul language, coarse joking, and lying.

There also can be a perversion of justice. Victimizing widows or orphans. When we choose to seek our own interest at the expense of the rights of others.

The one who walks in integrity is going to live and function from the place of moral principles and uprightness.

I have seen over and over in life how integrity preserves you. One area specifically is the area of temptation. Temptation isn’t always in the area of sexuality. It can also be in areas like greed, money, theft, etc. I have had numerous opportunities to fail in these areas. What I love most about gaining a heart of integrity is that the decision is made for you before you ever find yourself in the temptation.

A person who walks in integrity has already made the decision to right way before they are in a situation to do what’s wrong. It makes life a lot simpler.

I believe that the way of wisdom is a superior way to live. What I love most is that James 1:5 gives us simple instruction if we lack wisdom, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”