Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Wisdom is the principal thing. Joseph knew that as a young man. His brothers despised him because he sought God’s will. God gave him favour with his father. God gave him two dreams which revealed the future. His brothers sold him into slavery, but he never forsook God. Potiphar’s wife wanted an affair with him, but he chose integrity over her attempts at evil. When God’s time was right, Joseph was elevated to a place where Pharaoh would witness his wisdom. Joseph was quick to remind Pharaoh that there was a God in heaven who reveals dreams. Joseph knew he did not have the wisdom needed in himself. He knew he needed to draw on God’s wisdom. He became second in command and he fulfilled the dreams that God had given him years earlier. His brothers and his father witnessed the importance of walking in God’s wisdom.
Daniel and his three friends chose God’s wisdom as young men as well. They were taken into captivity and the king demanded that the captives be examined to see if there were any men he could use in his courts. Daniel and his three friends asked to have a different diet than the rest of the captives and the servants of the king. Too many people have ignored the facts and they have tried to figure out exactly what is was that Daniel and his friends asked to eat. They think that certain food will make you wise and healthy. History has showed us that it is not the specific diet that is so important. What is important is knowing and submitting to the true God.
The apostles did not have a special diet. From what we know of them, they knew what it meant to be hungry. We know they would not have taken alcohol. They demonstrated much wisdom in their service for the Lord. Peter did not always draw from God’s wisdom. Paul needed to rebuke him publicly for being a stumblingblock to the saints in Galatians chapter 2.
Wisdom is the principal thing. If you or I want to make something of our lives, we need to submit to God’s wisdom. Solomon wrote that we need to get wisdom. Rather than chase after dollars or fame, we need to get wisdom. With all thy getting get understanding. How sad that so many will sacrifice the Lord’s Day and will spend their time on the golf course or in the store or on some fishing trip, etc.
You cannot get wisdom when you reject the God of wisdom. Solomon asked for wisdom as a young king. God granted him wisdom. He demonstrated his acceptance of that wisdom as a young king. However, as time moved on, he set aside that wisdom. God’s wisdom was still available to him, but he chose to let women turn him away from God.
In verse 8 we see that we should give wisdom a place of prominence. There is nothing of greater importance than God’s wisdom. Our society is so backward. Most people send their children off to the devil’s playground (public school) for thirteen years, and then encourage them to go off to another playground of the devil (university and college) where they are further corrupted. Then they get into the work force or they run for politics and they have minds of slush. If it were not for the grace of God, that does not allow the devil to take full control of the lost, we would be in terrible shape. We know our politicians are corrupted. They could not fight their way out of a wet paper bag. Thankfully our doctors can still make some wise observations.
The saddest part of all is the many men and yes, even some women who dare to stand at the podium in front of gullible men, women and children, and they lie to them about who God is and what He requires.
Yes, those men and women get their promotions. They go for Master’s degrees. They get paid big bucks. They love the praise of men. However, they have nothing as far as God is concerned. Unless we accept God’s wisdom, we cannot even recognize true wisdom. We cannot recognize true servants of God. In Acts 4:13 we read:
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Peter and John were the wisest men in the room there, but the people did not realize it. They knew they had been with Jesus, but that was not of importance to that crowd.
Peter and John were honoured by God, but not by men. They did not bow to the wicked wishes of the court. They could not stop preaching in Jesus’ name. They were willing to face the consequences. It was an honour for them to be counted worthy to suffer for Jesus’ name.
Stephen understood this in Acts chapter 7. He was honoured in that he saw Jesus standing in heaven, awaiting his soon arrival. He received an honour that those who were stoning him could not have. Saul did not have that at that time either. Saul would later be converted and he too was honoured by God.
The important thing is to embrace wisdom. To embrace something is to hold it close. To embrace something is to not want to let it go. Not many people understand the importance of a good and genuine embrace. They have a selfish motive for an embrace. Embracing God’s wisdom is not a selfish thing. It is a wise thing. It is a needful thing. We need God’s wisdom. We cannot make wise decisions apart from having God’s wisdom.
It is important to hear what God is saying. We need His wisdom today more than anything else. It is rather obvious that most people do not have God’s wisdom and are not interested in finding it. The few that are humbly seeking His wisdom will find it. They will be blessed in following God’s wisdom. I trust you are one who is seeking God’s wisdom. You will never go wrong in following His way.
Pastor Bartel