Daily Devotional

Proverbs 2:1-6

My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

What would you be willing to do to get wisdom?  In the New Testament, James teaches that we can ask God for wisdom and he will give it to us generously and without reproach (James 1:5).  But that doesn’t mean we just ask and – poof – it instantly appears. Proverbs explains that gaining wisdom is more of an on-going process than a one-time event. And it usually requires effort on our part.  The passage above lists some of the conditions (or requirements) for gaining wisdom. For example, we must “receive his words”… which means we must read and apply his words to our circumstances.  We must “cry out for discernment”… which implies waiting for an answer.  We must “make our ears attentive”… which requires stopping and listening.  And we must “search for wisdom like hidden treasure”… which takes time, effort and determination.  

Why is gaining wisdom such a lengthy and difficult process sometimes?  Perhaps because God wants us to seek him rather than the gifts he can bestow upon us. God loves to give good gifts to his children, but those things ought to be secondary. Colossians 2:3 says all the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Christ, and when we seek him first he gives us everything else (Matthew 6:33).  Learn this lesson from Solomon: he was the wisest man in the world, but when he neglected his relationship with God he plummeted into sin (1 Kings 11:1-4). Seeking wisdom is important. But seeking Christ is more important!
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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