Finding wisdom is not for the faint of heart—and few are the people that actually understand its worth.

When Solomon became King of Israel after his father David, God approached Solomon with a proposition—ask for whatever you desire and it will be granted to you.  He could have asked for gold, riches, or a great kingdom.  Instead, he asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead God’s people well.

In the first part of Proverbs 2, we see the writer trying to impart the value of wisdom on his child.  You see, many will not pursue wisdom.  Yes, they’ll take what’s easy to know, and get a lot of information, but they will not go far looking after wisdom, for to know true wisdom requires work.

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,  making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

The writer of Proverbs likens wisdom to seeking after silver and hidden treasure.  We all know the stories of people that have dedicated their lives toward finding shipwrecked treasure and “the big find.”

Our writer is saying that following hard after wisdom is a noble goal and that only if you receive knowledge and search for it are you going to find it.

It’s not something that you’ll stumble upon.  It’s not something easy to find.  It is hard, but it is worth it.

For us—we know that there are many decisions to be made in life, and that there are also many things that we do that we wish we would have considered another option.  Wisdom is one of those things that we’ll look back and wish we would have pursued—or we will plan to get while others are accumulating things that cost them less.

The choice is up to us.

The beginning of the book of Proverbs starts with a truth: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and understanding. In verses 20-33, the author goes one step further.

Beginning in verse 20, Wisdom is personified, and seen crying out in the marketplace, in the cities and wherever people can be found asking or pleading with the people to listen and learn.

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?  How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?  If you turn at my reproof,   behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.  Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,  therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;  but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
((The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Pr 1:20–33). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.))

Wisdom is available, it’s proclaimed by the Bible and by those that follow God.  The laws of God are not unknown.  The warning here is the same warning that was given in Deuteronomy and will be true in Revelation.  If a people calls upon the name of the Lord and follows Him, then he will benefit from the richness of God’s blessing.

However, if a people choose to ignore Wisdom and ignore God, then they will reap what they sow.  And that’s what we get in the second half of this quote—Wisdom laughs at the calamity that has come, because it had warned about it in the past.

God knows all things, because He created all things.  There’s nothing that surprises God and nothing that He does not know.

That’s why the beginning of knowledge is the fear of God.

The people that you listen to, that you admire, hold sway over your opinions and worldview.  They effect your judgment process and can influence the decisions that you make.

Proverbs 1:10-19 offers us a warning about people around us that may encourage us to sin:

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.  If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;  it takes away the life of its possessors.
((The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Pr 1:10–19). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.))

The Sinners

The first part of this passage assumes that we will know “the sinners” when we see them—and this is truth.  Most often we know the groups of people that tend to be trouble.  Often people are attracted to them because they’re “dangerous.”  But most of the time we know those are bad news.

If there were any doubt, what the sinners ask us to be a part of should be a dead giveaway.

In the case of this passage, the plan is to find an innocent person and to kill them for their money and goods. The admonition of this passage is that there are consequences for this sin—you will not get away blameless.  The comment at the end (“it takes away the life of its possessors”) could be interpreted two different ways.

If no one finds out that you were involved, you may get away with the crime, but you’ll always wonder if they’ll find out.  You see, in ancient Israel, if a person was killed (murder or accidental) the next of kin had the right to hunt down the killer and put them to death.  There was grace if you could get to the City of Refuge and convince them that it was accidental, but otherwise you were dead.

So you would either lose your life at the hand of the avenger, lose it because you’d be living in the City of Refuge until the death of the High Priest (or your own death), or you’d be on the run, always wondering if you’d get caught.

Applicable to Us

But how many times does someone proposition you and I to go commit murder?  I would venture to say that it’s not very often.  And yet I’m sure there are many times that we’ve been offered a chance to sin.

Whether it’s looking at something we shouldn’t, partaking of something we shouldn’t, stealing, cheating or something else, we have been tempted to be “part of the crowd” or to sin.  I mean, at some level, accepting people jesting about the things of God could be called sin!

The writer of Proverb’s wisdom to us is not to let sinners entice us.  We must stand apart and stand up for what’s right.  Only then can we be safe.

This proverb seems to be obvious, but given the current cultural climate it bears repeating:

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
((The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Pr 1:8–9). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.))

The relationship between a child and parent differs over time.  Children start out believing everything a parent says, and parents are the child’s world.  Children then begin to have other sources of information other than the parents.  And then the young person starts to wonder if his parents “know anything.”  It then turns full circle and the child (now adult) wonders why she didn’t ask her parents for more advice when she was younger.

Now this isn’t to say that all parents are perfect—they aren’t.  However, by virtue of the fact that they have lived the time period that you are now living, and they have given birth to you, there is a lot that they know that you do not.

In this proverb, the author likens the instruction of the father and the mother’s teachings to a garland or crown to the head and jewelry around the neck.  These are valuable things—things that are not common but rare.

The idea is that those that would take the time to hear their father’s instruction and follow their mother’s teaching would be blessed.

In other words, we should listen to our parents, for their wisdom can be a blessing to us.

The book of Proverbs opens with a call to those that would be wise.  It gives an introduction to the material that will be found therein, and invites the reader to “increase in learning and to obtain guidance.”

The first actual proverb is found in verse 7:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

This passage is making a general statement.  If one wants to begin to understand knowledge, then they must start by fearing the Lord.

This fear isn’t necessarily the fear of “what will He do to me” but instead the fear of reverence and position.  God, as the Creator of all things, knows all things.  Therefore, whatever He says is true.

The opposite is then stated:  Those that would refuse to gain knowledge from the Lord are fools—for fool despise wisdom and instruction.

It is from this framework and with this in mind that the writer of the following Proverbs is going to expound wisdom to the reader.  Though many of the things he will say are innately wise, only a mind that considers what the Lord has as valuable and true will be able to attest to it all.

This month we’re going to start something new.  The book of Proverbs is an interesting book in that much of it is worded as a father would say these things to his son.

The main author was blessed with wisdom, and that wisdom is still relevant today, and it’s worth looking through these bits of wisdom to see what we can gain and learn.

So, starting in the month of May, and continuing as long as there is interest, I would like to look at different pieces of wisdom, working our way through the passage, and see what we learn along the way.

This morning I will be taking my oldest son to the doctor.  Some of you know that he has struggled with allergies and we’re still trying to narrow down one of his symptoms.  Today’s test will be three hours of “drink this and wait.”

Parents today can look at their children as a burden—just one more person that they’re responsible for.  Parents are trained to look to others to raise their children—be they grandparents, day care or school.  The thing is, you, as their parent, have the best ability to influence them for good or ill.

If you spend the time that you have together under the same roof apart from each other, getting what you think is important, you may find that you miss the opportunity to connect with your children, to pass on what truly matters and to be a good example to them.

So my encouragement to you, parent, is to be there.  Don’t just live there, don’t let your body occupy space there, but mentally and physically be there.  Plan time with your kids, and plan time to just be there with them.  Open up to them more than take them out to do things.  Grow your bond with them.

Talking with them about who they are when they are small and helping them with trivial things will pay off dividends when they’re older.

Speaking of which, I have a couple of sons that want to learn how to make paper airplanes—so I must be off…

“I love you.” 

“143.”

“I heart you.”

All different ways to say something that shares your feelings, and yet we need actions to back them up—we need to show our love, and not just say it.  Sure, anyone can say it with flowers or chocolates, but how about saying it with your whole being?

First 5

6. Love When No One Else is Watching

It’s easy to show love in front of others because it is to our own personal gain.  Whether it’s so that people believe that a marriage in trouble is just fine, you’re showing a united front, or someone in front of you just showed love, when others are watching you and they can see what you are doing you can get a pat on the back for doing a good job.

However, when you take the time to show your love behind the scenes—the lunch that he’d have to make, the dishes she’d have to do—you are saying I love you to them in ways that touch them deeper than you know.

7. Speak Positively of Them

We all know the circumstances.  People are away from their husband or wife and they decide to tell the juicy tidbit of how their spouse failed.  They are all set to tell how their wife never lets them do anything or their husband just loafs around the house.

What they don’t realize, however, is that this kind of talk influences how people look at the missing person, and can actually hurt that spouse.  Not only does it rehearse the things that we shouldn’t be thinking about our loved one (because we are a product of what we think and what we do), but it hurts other people’s opinion of that person.

To that end, we should make sure that our communication in the presence of others always seeks to build up the people we love, not tear them down.

8. Take Out the Garbage

No, I’m not talking about that garbage.  I’m talking about the garbage in your mind.  Many of us carry the equivalent of garbage about certain loved ones in our minds.  We have mental (or in some cases physical) lists of where they’ve failed and how much it hurt.  We keep track of things that they’ve said or done, even after they’ve asked forgiveness.

We allow this garbage to build, and to be used time and again in fights or future conflicts, and this garbage belonged long disposed of and replaced with positive thoughts and encouragement.

Nothing says I love you like not keeping track of wrongs.

9. Look Forward to Their Arrival

Time apart is something that no couple wants but all couples must face.  Whether it’s the dating couple that says good-bye after a great night out together or the couple that has to say good-bye for work reasons, couples are usually not together every day for twenty-four hours.  That being said, it’s important to make sure that you consciously look forward to their return.  That you make sure that you anticipate it, and that your loved one knows that you missed them.

10. Take Time to Prepare Yourself For Them

Kristin said it best on this post when she said:

I think a lot of women underestimate how much men appreciate their wife always appearing presentable. My older sister and her husband have been married for over seven years (since she was 20 and he was 19) and despite having three children she still takes the time to dress nicely, do her makeup and hair, and wear perfume every day even if she isn’t leaving the house. Just by doing these simple things she can let her husband know that he is the reason she wants to look beautiful, not for anyone else.

Love says that you’re the most important person in my life—not anyone else—and I want to show it.

But you can show that you love someone without saying it, and sometimes that vivid illustration can say what words cannot.

1. Submitting to the Other

One of the things that will show your love like nothing else is by putting aside your desires for theirs.  I’m not saying that you need to be a slave to someone, but when you’re in love and showing it, you will naturally find that you’re willing to do whatever the other person wants to do—you just want to be with them no matter what.

What comes so easy when you’re dating or courting should also be something that you work on and practice in marriage, so that your let the person that you love know that being with them is more important than getting your own way.

2. Thinking of Them

When you were dating, or if you’re still dating, your lover is always on your mind.  You’re thinking about the next time you’ll be together.  You’re pondering what they’re doing or wearing.  You’re hoping that they’ll call.

This is when you should write down something to show them later, or you should give them a call, drop them an e-mail or send a text.  You’re thinking about them, and I’m sure they’ll be happy to know it.

3. Be There in the Tough Times

It’s easy to be around when things are going well.  It’s hard to be with people when they’re making you mad or they are going through difficult times.  It is in these tough times that you can show your love more powerfully than at any other time in your relationship.  It is during these difficult times that you show them that they are more than the happiness that they bring you—they are someone that you truly love.

4. Share Your True Self

Many of us are adept at playing the hypocrite.  No, I’m not calling everyone a liar, but what I am saying is that we all wear masks—the thickest we wear is the one that many of us wear to church.

The longer that you’ve been in a relationship with someone, the thinner the mask is between you and them—because they see you even when you’re tired out.  However, even in this case, it’s rare that someone shows who they truly are, and what they truly struggle with.

If you’re able to share with your lover who you truly are, and they know what you’re doing, they will know that you truly love and trust them.

5. Sacrifice

This kinda goes along with #1, but is slightly different.  Whereas submission chooses to do something that someone else wants, sacrifice takes something that you want and, knowing that you both can’t have it, gives it up for the good of the other person.

If you can do this without calling attention to the fact that you’re doing it, then you’ve truly shown love indeed—for true love doesn’t call attention to oneself, but seeks the best for someone else.

Part 2 tomorrow…

And yet, on the horizon is something big– something God-sized that is going on, but I’m not quite sure what it all means yet.  Let’s just say that I see the hand of the Lord on my family again, and that He is already at work preparing something for us to do.

How do I know it’s Him?  Part of it is intuition– the intuition that told me to return to my hometown, to join this current church at this time, and that told me who to marry.  Part of it is circumstance– I couldn’t begin to detail all that I’ve seen and that I’m seeing at work.  Maybe as it comes closer to fulfillment I can talk about all the marvelous ways I’m seeing Him at work.

And lastly, part of it is because He’s answering our prayers.  We long to be part of something that we can point to and say “that was not me, that was God.”  “That was not of me or my church’s strength, that was of God’s strength.”

And of course, I believe He’s trying to use me here on the web as well— though I’m sure that He’s shaking His head sometimes at what I choose to write, post, and how I respond in comments!  But praise be to Him that He loves me and is choosing to use me.