The Will to Be Wise

by Dee Bowman
via Biblical Insights, Vol. 14 No. 8, August 2014

In the introduction to the Proverbs, Solomon uses several words with similar connotations, each related to wisdom. Listen to them: “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding. To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. To give to the young man knowledge and discretion.” (Proverbs 1:2-4 KJV).

Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge or experience to a given set of circumstances in order to bring about the best end for everyone concerned. It is the general theme of the Book of Proverbs, the underlying principle in all that is suggested in it.

• “Perceive” is from a Latin word which originally meant “to seize.” It is akin to wisdom: someone who has it is usually wise, either through education or experience.
• “Understanding” is akin to both wisdom and perception conceptually. It literally means to have insight into a matter. Perspicuity, formerly an optical term, is its equivalent, meaning to look into something and see.
• The phrase translated as “wise counsels” in our English (Proverbs 1:5; KJV) has an interesting history. It’s the Hebrew word for “ropes.” As a seaman “knows the ropes,” even so a wise man knows which strings to pull. It obviously has to do with wise choices.
• The other words: "justice," "prudence," and "judgment," each have something to do with wisdom in their own way.

I have chosen a passage from some of these timely admonitions for your consideration. Stop now and read Proverbs 10:12-17. Once you’ve read it, rehearse briefly the words we’ve just discussed, and notice how wisdom is in every admonition.

“Hatred stirs up strife. But love covers all sins” (Proverbs 10:12).

Anger and hatred agitate; love seeks peace. The wise man will not long tolerate anger of any sort, much less outright hatred or disdain. His intention is never in the direction of condemnation, but of justification. The direction he takes on any matter will be predicated on love, the kind that makes choices tending toward reconciliation, not separation.

“Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding. But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding" (Proverbs 10:13).

A wise man will always try to understand before making any choice. Understanding is what lies beneath a matter; it is what forms the basis for good decisions. It is the ability to grasp the meaning of a situation. It blots out bother, dispels trouble ahead of time, and makes solutions to problems possible. Ignorance, on the other hand, is a harsh taskmaster. It’s like a “rod to the back,” invariably causing not only discomfort, but sometimes intense pain. It befuddles situations. It leads to stupid choices, brainless decisions, and continual trouble for its holder.

“Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction” (Proverbs 10:14).

The admonition here is simple, but potent. It simply advises that one store up the good stuff. To store up knowledge is to make a foundation for making wise choices, no matter the situation. This kind of storage will not spoil. It is ready for use at any time and in any situation. Please note its connection to the mouth. Wisdom is never more obvious than in the mouth of a good man. Few things are more beautiful or wiser than a few well-chosen words. Conversely, few things condemn a man as soon as a few poorly said sentences.

“The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty” (Proverbs 10:15).

How wise it is to use what you have with care and consideration. Nobody ever said money was not important; only that it must be used well. It can strengthen a man’s opportunities, fortify his efforts, and bring glory to God when it is used wisely. Like a strong city, it makes for peace and stability. On the other hand, poverty is hard. A Yiddish Proverb says, “Poverty is no disgrace, but it has no honor either.” Society actually rejects the poor, which is an indictment of how we live in this age. It has ever been the case. Solomon knew it early on. It should be remembered, too, that in many instances, poverty is the result of laziness.

“The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin” (Proverbs 10:16).

It’s foolish to work for foolish things--  things that have no lasting value, no true permanency -- but how very sad that most people do. A wise man will work for the right things. He will give his attention to the things that matter-both here and in the hereafter. A wise man recognizes the value of a righteous life, a value that cannot come when one foolishly chooses the way of the world. I read somewhere that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”

The sort of wisdom that is spent on wickedness is badly mis-spent. A life dedicated to mere enjoyment and pleasure is a ludicrous, unprofitable enterprise. On the other hand, a life spent in service to God is irrefutably wise. It not only provides quiescence and a settled mind here, but a joyful expectation of an eternal life so beautiful as to be indescribable.