Get Wisdom
In Proverbs 4, we see a
father urging his child to do whatever it takes to get wisdom. The Hebrew
verb translated "get" in Proverbs 4:5 is qana. It means: to acquire moveable goods through a financial
transaction. The way it is used in this verse implies that to get wisdom,
it will cost something. It may require us to prioritize wisdom over our
own affections (Proverbs 4:23) or choose to hold tightly to instruction when
other things try to pull us away. (Proverbs 4:13)
Proverbs 4 gives us several
imperatives to help us physically dedicate ourselves to the path of wisdom and
offer our bodies to God as instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6:12-13).
Keep your
heart. (Proverbs 4:23) This verse paints the picture of something that
must be guarded with vigilance because it isn't easy. The heart is the
seat of our thoughts, emotions and affections. We must constantly take
inventory of our desires and run them under the light of God's Word.
Manage your mouth. (Proverbs 4:24) The Bible puts a lot of emphasis on the
words we say. They can build others up (Ephesians 4:29) or crush the
spirit. (Proverbs 15:4) They can overflow with praise, (Psalm 119:171) or
they can corrupt the whole body. (James 3:6) Proverbs 4 urges us to avoid
lying lips and stay away from conversations that breed gossip and
corruption.
Fix your eyes. (Proverbs 4:25) Distractions beckon us every day to stray
from the path of wisdom. In order to ignore those
distractions, we need eyes with a fixed purpose. When
we fix our eyes on Jesus, we can be confident He will lead us and bring our
faith in Him to perfection. (Hebrews 12:2).
Watch your step. (Proverbs 4:26) My kids used to watch a cartoon where the
main character would travel a path and stop to ask, "Which way should we
go?" Sometimes, one path looked like a dark, scary forest
while the other path looked sunny, bright and open. Naturally, we'd all
tell her to take the bright, open path. But in life, the dark, evil path
may be disguised as one that seems inviting or fun. Proverbs 4 encourages
us to carefully watch the path of our feet so we won't enter the path of the
wicked. (Proverbs 4:14)
Be Blessed!
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