Proverbs 4
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7 NIV
I was recently struck by the way wisdom is spoken about in the Proverbs. The basic premise is realizing that you don’t know it all, but there is someone out there who can help you. Simply put, this is humility and a desire to grow and learn from others! Looking back on some of my college years, I am thankful for the example that I saw of people looking to Christians who are older than them for advice, and heeding that counsel. This has had a huge impact on my life as I have grown and needed to learn about marriage and raising children and in relationships with other people.
Recently, I have been having conversations with my girls, encouraging them to ask for and take advice. I want to instill in them a desire for wisdom on a very small scale, and experience the reward that comes from seeking it.
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better return than gold.” – Proverbs 3:13
An interesting thing about these proverbs is that it says it is the WISE people who are asking for advice, actively pursuing help, and seeking input in their lives. Sometimes we are reluctant to do that because we don’t want to acknowledge an area of weakness, or that we don’t want others to know that we don’t have everything all figured out. The reverse is the truth, though! The proverbs indicate that blessing will come from being humble and being proactive about gaining wisdom.
Question to ponder: In what areas of my life do I need to seek wisdom or counsel?