Proverbs 2 shows us how to find the wisdom we need for the problems we face.
There I was again…hiding from my kids in the bathroom, pretty much at my wit’s end. Naptime with my youngest was a challenge that day, and I was done. I was frustrated that I had apparently learned nothing about being a parent in the years since my oldest was born.
We all need wisdom, but may not know where to find it.
Most days I feel like I don’t know much about parenting, and that’s just one of the areas in my life where I feel clueless. The truth is, life is hard and requires wisdom. We all face things in life that we just don’t know how to deal with, but we may not know how to find the wisdom that we need.
The world is quick to offer its answers to our questions. Everywhere you look, there are books, blogs, podcasts, and Facebook posts with people sharing their advice about your problem. The things is, though, if you look at ten different sources, you’ll find ten different opinions. How can we know which advice is worth listening to? How do we know which answers are the ones that we need?
James 1:5 tell us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” God will give wisdom to those who ask for it. Proverbs 2:6 says, “The Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Wisdom comes from the mouth of God, which would be through His words. God’s primary way to share His words with us is through His written Word, the Bible. So, all true wisdom comes from God and can be found in the truth of the Bible. The best wisdom the world has to offer is just foolishness compared to the wisdom of God.
In Proverbs 2:1-5, we see four steps that show us how to find the wisdom that God has promised us:
First, we must receive and treasure God’s Word.
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you…
Proverbs 2:1
We are blessed beyond measure that God has chosen to reveal Himself to us, because had He not done that, we would not know Him or have access to His truth. We must recognize Scripture for the treasure that it is. Only when we do that will we be motivated to spend time reading and studying the Bible.
Second, we must listen to and learn from God’s Word.
Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding…
Proverbs 2:2
The implication here is obedience. Just reading the Bible is not enough. As we read the Bible, we gain knowledge, but wisdom is actually applying that knowledge to our everyday lives. We can’t be wise if we don’t apply what we’ve read.
Third, we must pray to understand God’s Word.
Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding…
Proverbs 2:3
We need the help of the Holy Spirit to know how to apply the Scripture to our problems. On our own, we are likely to misinterpret or misapply what we read, so we need the Spirit to help us get it right.
Fourth, we must seek answers to our specific problems by searching God’s Word.
If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures…
Proverbs 2:4
We must seek wisdom in the same way that we would search for hidden treasure. God has given us everything that we need for life and godliness, and He’s done that through His Word, according to 2 Peter 1:3. That means the Bible is sufficient. It has all the answers that we need. We must take the time to search the Bible and find those answers.
If we do all of these things, then we will “understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5). We can find wisdom if we’re just willing to ask for it and search for it!
In what areas of your life could you use more wisdom? How has God given you the wisdom you need to deal with past struggles? Let me know in the comments below.
For more study on wisdom, you can download this free Scripture Writing/Bible Study plan:
Finding Wisdom in a Foolish World Handout
