Getting Wisdom and Insight

“Then he [King David] taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.’” (Proverbs 4:4-9, ESV)

Wisdom comes with experience. For the most part, that’s what we believe– that the longer you live, the more wisdom you have. It’s not a wrong line of thinking, as throughout our lives, the things we go through teach us something; so experiences hone wisdom because the knowledge was gained through living. 

But Godly wisdom isn’t just this passively gained thing as we go through life. It doesn’t happen by osmosis. Godly wisdom is something gained through active pursuit. It’s an intentional process that costs us something in order to receive and apply it.

But in Proverbs 4, Solomon shares wisdom that he learned from his father, King David. Through this anecdote, we see that David emphasizes a need for receptiveness before he instructs his son. In order to gain knowledge, we must be teachable– we must take hold of the words. Without an attuned heart, Godly wisdom will fall on deaf ears or a hard heart. 

When we humbly pursue wisdom by the study of God’s word and the petition of our prayers to Him, we begin to learn and mature in those things. But it’s not simply a matter of pursuing knowledge– there is a cost and a sacrifice in gaining it. 

The word Solomon uses when he says “Get wisdom! Get insight!” (v5) is “qana,” which has a transactional or financial connotation to it. This isn’t necessarily as in, “Buy wisdom! Buy insight!” because we know that those things can’t be bought, but it does mean that Solomon attaches a value to the instruction that produces wisdom. There is a transaction that takes place to attain it.

For the Christian, there is a putting in of time, conviction, and sacrifice of self that must occur for that Godly wisdom to be learned, internalized, and allowed to change us. Otherwise, the instruction we receive is purely a clinical, objective knowledge, rather than an applicable, transformational wisdom that is gleaned from being open to God’s precepts and His commandments.

Other than that initial receptiveness that David instructed Solomon in, this transaction of “less of me, more of you, Lord” is the beginning of gaining wisdom. And yet, the benefits reaped from that wisdom are entirely worthwhile: life, protection, veneration, and honor. These characteristics are like riches: crowns, garlands, and jewels. 

So the cost is well worth it, but it does take something of ourselves to pursue it. And for Christian parents, it will be even more valuable to us to pass on to our children. To train a child up in the way they should go, it requires time spent by the parent in teaching, instructing, and discipling. 

If David, one of the greatest kings of Israel, saw the importance of passing Godly wisdom to his son, how much more should we dedicate ourselves to that same level of discipleship? If he could make time in his schedule and day to share spiritual teachings with his kids, why would we not feel the same devotion to the task of prioritizing that in our families? 

Maybe you’re reading this and you’re not in that chapter of life. Maybe you’re not chasing toddlers around the house all day like me, or preparing teenagers to launch on their own path; but odds are you have a family. You can either inspire that family to pursue Godly wisdom through study and devotion together as a unit, or you can pursue wisdom individually with the idea that one day, you will have a family to instruct. 

So if you’re reading this today and have yet to find a spouse or have kids, then be encouraged to pursue and get wisdom to enrich the life you have now. Live a life in submission to God’s will and His Word not only because it is right, but because one day you will have a family to pass that wisdom to.

And if you’re reading this in your older age, from an empty nest, then wisdom can still be pursued personally, and you can instruct grandchildren, friends, and younger people in the church (as the Bible instructs you to). 

King David’s imperative to get wisdom is never done. It’s a life-long task. We’ve never arrived until we stand before the King of All. Do not forget that wisdom or take it for granted. Do not grow comfortable or assume that your experiences excuse you from continuing to pursue spiritual understanding.