Are You a Wise Person?

Have you ever bumped into someone who was not a wise person? Maybe you've been that person. I certainly have been, and thankfully we have an entire book in the Bible that has a central theme of wisdom woven throughout its pages.

The Book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon, the third king of ancient Israel. It is a collection of wisdom literature that consists of short, pithy sayings and maxims designed to provide guidance for living a virtuous life. The book emphasizes the importance of wisdom, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord as the foundation of a meaningful and righteous existence.

Proverbs covers a wide range of topics, including morality, family, work, relationships, and personal conduct. It encourages readers to seek understanding, make wise choices, and cultivate good character to lead a fulfilling life in accordance with God's will.

It serves as a timeless source of practical advice and ethical principles for individuals seeking to navigate the complexities of life with discernment and integrity.

Ray Ortlund states, “The word ‘proverbs’ alerts us to the style of this book. A biblical proverb is a briefly stated, time-tested insight into real life.”[1] Timothy Keller adds to this thought and says, "The point of a proverb, then, is to get rightly related to reality through hard thinking and sustained reflection.”[2] And my friend Dr. Phil Brown says,

“The wisdom of Proverbs is the wisdom from God the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit, to Solomon and thus to all God’s sons, in whom dwells the Spirit of wisdom, for whom Christ has been made the wisdom of God, and through whom God the Father is glorified as His wisdom is manifested in our lives.”[3]

The Fear of the Lord

In Proverbs 1:7, Solomon makes this statement: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline."

What does it mean to fear the Lord?

Here's how I would define it: The fear of the Lord is a reverential awe and deep respect for God, often associated with a profound understanding of his holiness and a desire to live in accordance with his will.

A proper fear of God lays a basic foundation for wisdom. As Biblical commentator Bruce Waltke writes, “What the alphabet is to reading, what notes are to music, what numerals are to mathematics, the fear of I AM is to gaining the book’s wisdom and instruction.” ^[4]

So What Does This Mean for Your Life?

Life is tough.

You're making thousands of micro and dozens of macro decisions each day. Choices that determine your future. In an age of AI and opinions on social media, opinions are everywhere, but wisdom remains in short supply.

This is why, if you want to be a wise person, a knowledgeable person, it's imperative that you pursue wisdom.

Becoming a Christian doesn’t make you a wise or knowledgeable person overnight. But it does ensure your life is built on the right foundation. And the more you learn to think like Christ thinks and react as Christ reacts, the wiser you will become.

[1] ESV Gospel Transformation Bible, 793

[2] Keller, Timothy; Keller, Kathy. God's Wisdom for Navigating Life (p. xvi). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

[3] Proverbs handout

[4] Waltke, Bruce K.,De Silva, Ivan D. V.. Proverbs: A Shorter Commentary (Kindle Locations 2031-2032). Eerdmans. Kindle Edition.