Meditations through the Proverbs

Proverbs 1:1-7

(1) The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

(2) To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,

(3) to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

(4) to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth--

(5) Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

(6) to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

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

One morning the young new president of a bank made an appointment with his predecessor to seek some advice. He began, “Sir, as you well know, I lack a great deal of the qualifications you already have for the job. You have been very successful as president of the bank and I wondered if you would be kind enough to share with me some of the insights you have gained from your years here that have been the keys to your success.”

The older man looked at him with a stare and replied: “Young man, two words: good decisions.”

The young man responded, “Thank you very much, sir, but how does one come to know which is the good decision?”

“One word, young man: experience.”

“But how does one get experience?”

“Two words, young man: bad decisions.” ^[1]

I think it’s pretty clear the point being made here is that one must live life and learn from his mistakes in order to grow wise, and for sure this is one way to gain wisdom, but the bible tells us other ways to gain wisdom. Consider verses 2 through 4, they tell us wisdom is gained by receiving instruction in many things. This thought is taken further in verses 5 and 6 by the wise hearing, increasing in learning and obtaining guidance. All this is wrapped up with verse 7 in that the beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord.

So what is the point that is to be taken from this? The point may well be that we do learn from experience, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be our experience, it can be the experience of those who have went through it before us. I must argue that this is a better way to gain wisdom, at least a less painful way. That is what these proverbs are for according to verse 6, we are to understand these proverbs and learn from their wisdom so that according to verse 7, we are not a fool.

As I think through a few events in my life I must admit that most of the wise things I have learned have been learned the hard way, which is by living through some bad decisions. I hope that as I meditate on these scriptures those old ways of growing wise will become less common and I will conform to a better way, the way of learning from others. This is also my prayer for others especially my children, how painful a thing it is to see your children take on the way of learning through bad experiences, but to that I say if that brings wisdom than it is better than being a fool.

James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Do you believe that? Do you believe the words of God? Then let’s trust and ask and receive!

1. Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, Michael P. Green, Baker Book House, 1992, “wisdom” 1464