Wisdom. Why does it evade us?

“Hear my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her for she is your life.” Proverbs 4:10-13

I noticed this passage of scripture this week and wrote it down in order to read it again because I thought it was so profound and comforting.

Solomon starts out the chapter with, “Hear my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding...” So the way in which he writes this chapter is as a father teaching and instructing his child. This is parallel to our heavenly Father teaching revealing wisdom to us through His Word.

The Proverbs are known for it's wise words and verses that tell us how and why we should want wisdom, understanding, instruction, humility and honor.

The verse above starts out with Solomon pleading with us to listen carefully to what he is about to tell us and if we do then we will be blessed. If we walk in wisdom in every aspect of our lives, the years of our life will be more than they would have been if we had walked recklessly. I guarantee it and so does Solomon. If we ask God to give us wisdom to walk in His way, we can be sure if we follow it all the time (which we fail at), we will stay on the straight and narrow path. Our steps will not be hindered, and when we run, we will not stumble even if the road is rocky and it is hard to see the path. God is there guiding us.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.”

Proverbs 15:33

I especially like the part that says, “Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her for she is your life.” Isn't it so true?

“He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.” Proverbs 15:32

We see that instruction and understanding go together. If we get one, we get the other, but if we don't get instruction then how can we have understanding?

“...But a man of understanding walks uprightly.” Proverbs 15:21a

Here is a list of character traits. The ones after the = are what you get if you have the first character trait listed. These are all based on verses in the book of Proverbs.

Fear of the Lord = instruction of wisdom

Humility = honor

Instruction = understanding

Understanding = walking in uprightness

Wise = prudent

Trusting in the Lord = happiness

Wholesome tongue = tree of life

Here are some negative one now that we can learn a lesson from to remember to not let ourselves go that way.

Pride = destruction, abomination to the Lord

Haughty spirit = falling

Following our own way = death

Hating correction = death

Perverseness = breaks the spirit

“The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29

This week let us try to remember the downfalls of people who don't walk in God's way and take warnings from the punishments they endured because of it. AND by seeing the things that happened to them, let's strive to walk even harder in God's ways and not let ourselves stray or walk away from the path of life through Christ Jesus our Lord.