Proverbs study: acquiring wisdom

In last week’s blog, we covered what it looks like to seek wisdom. But what happens when you find it? What are we supposed to do with it? 

Proverbs 4:5-7 speaks about this as acquiring wisdom, “Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.”

Defining ‘acquire’

The word ‘acquire’ doesn’t simply mean to attain something. It refers to a specific acquisition of a possession or property that has value. In the times when this was written, property was considered a monument of wealth, indicating prosperity and social status.

The word basically means owning a valuable asset. Think of the last time you bought something that was valuable. Did you invest in insurance for it, or protect it in any way? Likely, you did.

When we attain a valuable asset, we invest in them. We protect them and expect a return on them based on their value. It may be monetary, personal enjoyment or something else. Either way, you expect something in return. 

Proverbs 2:1 describes it another way, “My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you.” We treasure this asset. 

When you treasure something, you love it. You protect it. You make sure nothing compromises it. When you receive wisdom, then you will “discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5).

Fear and knowledge of God go together. If you fear Him, you revere Him and therefore know and understand His character of being both good and all powerful. And the more you know God the more you grow in His knowledge. 

When this happens, just get ready.

Suddenly, your view of everything else will change. The world will start to infiltrate with color in our previous black and white vision. God’s wisdom brings life and light into all else.

I’ve talked a lot about how we can’t just seek the idea of God, or our version of who we think He should be. But rather we need to seek Himself based on who He says He is. So with this knowledge of Him we are better able to see what His characteristics are based on how He defines Himself (Proverbs 2:9). 

Forsaking vs. ignoring wisdom

Proverbs 4:5-7 outlines for us to not forsake or ignore wisdom. 

The word forsake is ‘azab’ in Hebrew; it means to abandon, leave or reject. Someone will see wisdom, but won’t want any part of it. This can either be a physical abandonment, such as leaving God and the church altogether. Or it could be an emotional one, where you are mentally checked out. Your priorities in life have already shifted, and for whatever reason, knowing God is an idea to you that you’ve abandoned.

Whereas the word ignore is ‘shaqah’ in Hebrew means turn away or neglect. You stop paying attention to wisdom, your focus is elsewhere. If you neglect your pursuit of wisdom, you’ll easily let it be forgotten in your life. Absent from your life, it will be replaced with something else. This one I think is trickier since you’re not outright denying it, you’re just silently letting wisdom drift into the background. You haven’t necessarily rejected the idea of God, but you aren’t actively pursuing Him either. You live your life moderately as a Christian, going to church when you can, but you don’t pursue a relationship or knowledge of Him. 

Neglecting wisdom can also take a different shape, where it appears that you’re pursuing wisdom but you aren’t. You’re pursuing your version of who God is and you’re ignoring His actual character. You’ve made your own gospel. This could hurt many people along the way. Particularly if you’re loudly proclaiming Christianity while spinning up your own version, misusing and even abusing the gospel. In this example, you’ve made it about yourself and not God. 

Wisdom is accessible

In the first chapter of Proverbs, it visualizes wisdom as a woman calling in the streets. At every corner, she shouts. Wisdom is accessible, we just don’t try or want to try to look for her. It’s easier to abandon wisdom altogether for a more comfortable option where we feel more in control. 

We may feel as though God’s wisdom is hidden, but far from it. Godly wisdom warns us at every corner of the street (Proverbs 1:20). 

What ways do we think we’re pursuing knowing God, but instead pursue our own idea of Him? When we do this, we neglect or ignore wisdom altogether.