Ancient philosophers argued that all men seek knowledge. They cited as an example the use of our senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch—the use of which we ever employ in learning.
While it may be true that all men seek knowledge, it is equally true—and this the philosophers failed to understand—that knowledge in and of itself is futile. Knowledge, apart from God’s truth, has led men to such foolish conclusions as evolution, communism, and humanism.
Solomon urges upon us the pursuit of true wisdom: “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not…wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom and in all thy getting, get understanding.” (Provs. 4:5,7)
C.H. Spurgeon defined wisdom thusly: “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”
In Proverbs 1:20-33, wisdom is personified: that is, it is given lifelike characteristics and is referred to as though it were a person, and rightly so. Jesus Christ, Paul said, is made unto us wisdom. (I Cor. 1:30) Every time the word wisdom occurs in Proverbs, you can substitute “Jesus” or “Jesus Christ” and the meaning would not change.
Wisdom, or Jesus, cries out in this passage and the message it delivers we dare not ignore: It is a
- Message of Opportunity (vss. 20,21): Not everyone has the opportunity to gain knowledge, but wisdom from God is for those who ask for it, and God gives liberally. A dairy farmer in Beloit, Wisconsin says it was a 60-cow dairy farm that brought him to saving faith. He writes: “I had just helped an elderly farmer push the last manure carrier out to the spreader. He stood for a moment contemplating the steaming pile, then said, ‘You know, it was spreading manure that really made me believe in God.’ I must have looked blank, for he continued gravely, ‘If the stuff wasn’t good for the land, what would we do with it all? We couldn’t dump it in the streams or bury it; it’d take too long to dry it and burn it; and if we just let it pile up, we’d soon have to move. We really would be in for trouble if the good Lord hadn’t figured things out ahead of time.’”
Wisdom is found “in the streets, in the chief place of concourse…in the openings of the gates.” (Provs. 1:20,21)
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who was raised by his grandparents, said of his grandfather that he was a great man. He had no formal education and could read only enough to read the Bible. But, he found wisdom.
- The Opposition to Wisdom (v. 22): Opposition will come from the simple, who are indifferent; from the scornful, who are indecent; and from fools, who are indignant.
→“A wise son heareth his father’s instruction, but a scorner heareth not rebuke.” (Provs. 13:1)
→“The thought of foolishness is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.” (Provs. 24:9)
- The Offer of Wisdom (v. 23): God says “I will pour out my spirit unto you,” and “I will make known my words.” Wisdom is through the Spirit and the Word of God. “There are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, and the water (Word) and the blood, and these three agree in one.” (I John 5:8)
- The Obstinance to the offer of wisdom (vss. 24,25):
“I have called, and ye refused: I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded. But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof.” (Provs. 1:24,25)
“Oh, Jerusalem, O Jerusalem, thou that killeth the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee! How often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not!” (Matt. 23:37)
- The Ostracizing of God (vss. 26-33): (1) He will laugh and mock at our fear, 26,27; (2) He will not answer our cry for help, vss. 28-30; He will allow us to self-destruct, vss. 31,32.
Man’s wisdom was cranking out the same old answers to life’s problems when, in October of 1929, the stock market crashed and our nation plunged into the Great Depression. Many committed suicide; nine days before that early October crash, Professor Irving Fisher, celebrated economist of Yale, had this to say about the future of the American economy: “Stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau.”
So much for man’s wisdom. And when the calamity came and the fears and futile cries for help came, God says: “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” (Provs. 1:33)
It is now about 100 years later. Are the scorners still scorning?
Might history repeat itself, as it so often has done? Wisdom is still crying without, uttering her voice in the streets. Does it not behoove us to listen up?
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)
YOU and GOD 