By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
Pursuing Wisdom
Proverbs 8:6–21
Valuable (6–11)
Wisdom is valuable because it comes from God. It is the gift of God (Prov. 2:6) as an individual fears the Lord and lives in relationship with God.
The Book of Proverbs is not a book of moral principles that anyone can apply in his or her life. It is a book of principles Christians are empowered to live out in the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no wisdom apart from Christ (Col. 2:1–3).
Wisdom cried out for people to “listen.” We should listen to the Lord’s wisdom because all the words of His mouth are completely true and morally excellent. God has never said anything He had to be ashamed of or take back.
The issue for us — He is willing to tell us hard things, things we need to hear but do not want to hear. He does not flatter us, and He can be blunt. So we must decide whether we will listen to His wisdom so we can be changed into the image of Christ.
The Lord speaks “noble things.” Nothing degrading is in the gospel. The gospel raises our standards and lifts us above the vulgar. In our current culture of self-indulgence, that helps. His words may come with a bite, and we may have to swallow hard, but no bitter aftertaste lingers.
Verse 9 is an interpretative key. “All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge.”
In other words, the Bible is open to the open person. You need to understand this about yourself. How you experience the Bible reveals yourself to you. If your own mentality is biased in favor of self, the Bible will leave you feeling misunderstood and underappreciated, and you will reject its truth.
For this reason we must approach the Bible with the pre-commitment to obey humbly whatever God commands.
Verse 10 presents a dilemma. Will we accept instruction and wisdom, or will we pursue silver and gold? It is an either/or choice because whatever we take takes us. We will love either wisdom or money. We cannot live for two different ultimate goals at the same time. Serve Christ with your money or you will end up serving it without Christ.
Powerful (12–16)
Wisdom is powerful because it has broad relevance to life now. The perfect son of wisdom, Jesus Christ, declared that the people He blesses join Him in fearing the Lord and hating pride, self-
importance and sneakiness. These are the very sins to which gifted people are prone.
But God’s wisdom has the market cornered on counsel, resourcefulness, insight and strength.
Godly wisdom provides both strategies that succeed and the strength to execute them and not give up in the face of hardship.
Godly wisdom is spiritual wisdom. It is practical and it works. But the wisdom of Christ belongs only to people who humble themselves because they want to live to glorify Him.
The wisdom of Christ is the secret to success in the realm of human leadership. Godly wisdom is able to get things accomplished with versatility and competence.
Obtainable (17–21)
“I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.” Here we see the language of love. Godly wisdom is not impersonal principles. Godly wisdom is found in the person of Jesus Christ.
The indwelling Christ grants us wisdom as we abide in Him. If we seek Him with diligence, with intentionality, we will find Him. God honors an earnest heart.
The Lord offered “riches and honor” to those who truly seek Him. If we love and seek money as our prize, it will ruin us. But if we love and seek Christ as the prize of our hearts, He will supply all the treasure and honor we will need to love Him and serve Him according to His plan for our lives.
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