Articles
Pursue Wisdom
“When I was a son to my father, tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live! Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth’” (Proverbs 4:3-5).
Nobody is born innately knowing how to live wisely. This component of the saintly demeanor does not come without effort and assertion. As a parent, do not feel like you have to know everything right away, because that is impossible. As a child, do not feel like you are a total disappointment just because you are not as far along as your father or mother. We are all born with the need to grow, learn, and mature – which is what makes us human! If we have failed to realize this, then we deny ourselves the rich pursuit of self-improvement and education.
“Acquire wisdom!” – Wisdom does not come naturally, friends! It must be acquired, sometimes with great effort and determination. The opportunities exist all around us, though. I can acquire wisdom:
When I look for the positive side of my suffering;
When I listen to my father’s lectures, instead of roll my eyes and ignore him;
When I swim against the current, and follow God’s path;
When I decide to put away the video game and catch up on Bible reading;
When I babysit and learn responsibility for another life;
When I hold down a summer job, and handle it responsibly;
“Do not forsake her… Love her, and she will watch over you” (Proverbs 4:6).
The path to life and wisdom must involve more than just passing interest. The only way to acquire wisdom is to be around her always, pine for her, admire her, long for her. If we treat wisdom in this way, with this passion, it will never elude us. Unfortunately, most of us lack the drive for such devotion. We will be passionately invested in a football team, a job, an adulterer, a home renovation, etc. But are any of us in danger of being too invested in the pursuit of wisdom? “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously...and it will be given him” (James 1:5).
