The Proverbs :: A Guidebook for Menಮಾದರಿ

Four days into the book of Proverbs,we are starting to see how clear a picture Solomon is trying to paint us.

There is almost nothing more worthwhile in this world than the pursuit of wisdom. Wisdom protects us from the enemy's attacks; it guides us away from the schemes of men and leads us to the place where righteousness and holiness are found. Simply said, wisdom is the key to a fruitful and purposeful life.

So, how do we start? What is the first step down this beautiful path that we all desire? Again, Solomon resorts to brevity to drive his point home.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.

That’s it. If you long for wisdom, then begin accumulating it. Are you frustrated by his answer? Don’t be; there are steps to take, namely one. Look at these first four Proverbs, at how often we are commanded to LISTEN. See how we are told that the Lord gives us wisdom FREELY. Each command promises that if we pay attention to the Lord, the understanding will be there for our benefit.

It’s simple: save one question.

What are you willing to sacrifice to obey that command?

We live in a time where almost anything you need, you can buy and have shipped to your house in less than seven days. The idea of sacrificing one thing to gain another is almost foreign to us. And now more than ever, we give our attention away at an unprecedented rate and dangerously cheap. Our heads are turned by every tweet, every headline, each voice clambering to be just a bit louder than the one before. But are they leading us to wisdom?

Are you willing to sacrifice the fraudulent voices of pleasure to hear from God?

Choosing to tune them out and wholly listen to God is not a passive action, for the Lord has made one thing evident in these first four Proverbs: Wisdom comes only from His mouth and His mouth alone.

So, are you willing to pay the cost asked of you to hear Him? Are you up to the challenge to lay aside the things you would rather hear, the things that line up with your opinions or your desires? Are you willing to trade something that might sound good for the things of God that are best?

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Lord, tune my ears to what You have for me. Help me set aside the “wisdom” the world is peddling and subscribe wholeheartedly to focusing my attention on Your Word and Your Holy Spirit.