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Chapter 1
OBTAINING WISDOM
The Purpose Of Proverbs
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS is often called the “Businessperson’s Bible.” The Bible tells us that the author, Solomon, was the wisest man who ever lived. He had knowledge and insight on almost every subject. Thus, Proverbs is a book of wisdom. It has 31 chapters, and lends itself to daily reading.
One of the first things Solomon tells us is why he wrote Proverbs: “He wrote them to teach his people how to live . . . how to act in every circumstance, for he wanted them to be understanding, just and fair in everything they did” (PROVERBS 1:2-3) (emphasis mine). Think what it would be like to be able to know how to act in every circumstance, and understand what it means to be “just and fair in everything you do.” Is this something you need in business?
Solomon also says he wrote Proverbs because: “I want those already wise to become the wiser . . .” (PROVERBS 1:5). You may think this is fine, but you don’t feel you fit in the category with those “already wise.” Then look at the verse just before that: “I want to make the simple-minded wise (PROVERBS 1:4). Great! Here is a book written for all of us!
How To Attain Wisdom
Now the search begins. How do you become wise? “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline (PROVERBS 1:7). The fear it talks about here is not terror. It means reverence or respect for God. Note the interesting contrast here. Fools despise wisdom and refuse to be taught.
Next, “Have two goals: wisdom . . . that is knowing and doing right . . . and common sense” (PROVERBS 3:21); and, “Determination to be wise is the first step toward becoming wise! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment” (PROV-ERBS 4:7). This is saying that wisdom is of immense value, but needs decisive action and personal appropriation. Notice the way he speaks of wisdom. It is not just obtaining knowledge, or having a strong intellect. Instead, wisdom is knowing how to properly use the knowledge you have, and to have a love for it. You can read these concepts, but how do you understand? The answer is to search! Solomon says that, “Every young man who listens to me and obeys my instructions will be given wisdom and good sense. Yes, if you want better insight and discernment, and are searching for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure, then wisdom will be given you, and knowledge of God Himself; you will soon learn the importance of reverence for the Lord and of trusting Him” (PROVERBS 2:1-5).
God’s Word is to be received, and stored up. This is more than devotional reading. The way to learn the Word of God is to store it up; to listen not only with your ears, but also with your heart; to cry over it; to lift up your voice; to seek it as silver; to search for it as if it were a hidden treasure. That is the way we should go about searching for wisdom — without ceasing. That is the way you should go after knowledge of God Himself.
Now, you are probably thinking that this all sounds real nice, but, how do you apply it? What does this mean? How do I do this? Solomon says, “Follow my advice, my son; always keep it in mind and stick to it. Obey me and live! Guard my words as your most precious possession. Write them down, and also keep them deep within your heart. Love wisdom like a sweetheart; make her a beloved member of your family” (PROVERBS 7:1-4). Other versions of Scripture may use gold and silver in place of money and hidden treasure, but, chapter 7 in the Living Bible uses the words, “precious possession,” “deep within your heart,” “love wisdom like a sweet-heart, and make her a beloved member of your family.”
Consider this possible scenario. If you had a lost loved one, say a son or daughter, how would you go about finding that person? Would you not search for them without ceasing, in the same way Paul says we should pray without ceasing (I THESSALONIANS 5:17)? Or, is this the way you would do it . . . You get up one morning and begin getting ready for work. All of a sudden, your spouse tells you that your child is missing. You say, “Well, it will be ten minutes before the bathroom is clear and I can shower . . . I’ll go take a quick look around.” Ten minutes later, you come back, shower and dress, and find it will be another ten minutes before breakfast is ready. So you decide to look a little further. After breakfast, you find your ride to work is not here yet, so you spend a few more minutes “searching.” Once at work, you forego your morning coffee break, and maybe you even skip lunch that day to look. Is this how you would look for your child, a loved one? Probably not. Solomon is not saying that you should look for wisdom that way either. He means that you should search without ceasing. Searching, like prayer, can be a lifestyle.
Benefits Of Wisdom
Next, you might ask, “What will wisdom do for me? Is wisdom really what I need?” In other words, there are still doubts. After all, this search could be a lot of work. Let’s go back to Solomon’s purpose: “He wrote them to teach his people how to live . . . how to act in every circumstance, for he wanted them to be understanding, just and fair in everything they did” (PROVERBS 1:2- 3). Do you need to know how to act in every circumstance? Do you need to know what it means to be fair and just? These are very tough principles. If you have ever been lied to, stolen from, or betrayed your first concern may not have been to be fair and just.
But read on: “He shows how to distinguish right from wrong, how to find the right decision every time” (PROVERBS 2:9). Think about it. Being able to make the right decision . . . EVERY TIME. Wouldn’t you agree that this is what we all need? So, I wonder what else wisdom grants? According to Proverbs, it grants the desires of the new (or saved) person, as well as many of the desires of the old person. What do you desire in life? How about these desires listed in Proverbs?
- Favor with God and man (3:4-5)
- Common sense (3:4-5)
- Efforts crowned with success (3:6)
- Health (3:8)
- Vitality (3:8)
- Good judgment (3:13)
- Long good life (3:16)
- Pleasure (3:17)
- Peace (3:17)
- Honor (3:17)
- Safety and protection (4:6)
- Approval from God (8:35)
- Riches (11:24)
These are just a few of the things God Will grant, and the supporting verses. He makes theses promises not because you desire to become wise, but because you “trust and reverence the Lord.”
A Word of Caution
Be very careful. Our understanding of scripture must align with God’s. For example, take the benefit of wisdom listed above, riches. Proverbs 11:24-25 says, “It is possible to give away and become richer . . . by watering others, you also water yourself.” This is not exactly our first idea of how to obtain riches, and again, a very tough principle to put into practice.
This verse says that if one sows sparingly, he will also reap sparingly. It is a promise that says whatever you give away will come back to you with much more. This is a general principle. “Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will pour into your lap. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return” (LUKE 6:38).
The Process Of Ordinary People Obtaining Wisdom
Now that you have a plan of action, you need to put it to the test. Does God want you to become wise? Is this desire from Him, or just you? “Learn to be wise” he said, “and develop good judgment and common sense (PROVERBS 4:5); and, “I have called you so often but still you won’t come. I have pleaded, but all in vain. For you have spurned my counsel and reproof” (PROVERBS 1:24-25). Seeking God’s wisdom has incredible benefits. We read, “But all who listen to me shall live in peace and safety unafraid (from the fear of evil) (PROVERBS 1:33).
The wisdom of God is intended for the practical realities of daily life. It is for ordinary people going about their shopping, their business, and social affairs. This is where God-fearing wisdom really counts. If you obtain God’s wisdom, will you ever make a wrong decision? Will you ever make mistakes? Of course. How is that possible with all the wisdom you have supposedly obtained? There are two simple reasons. First, you take your eyes off God. You take counsel in your own understanding. “A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God’s Wisdom are safe” (PROVERBS 28:26); and, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (PROVERBS 3:5-6). Second, obtaining wisdom is a process. In the course of becoming wise, you make mistakes, but with God’s help you learn from them and become wiser. I Corinthians 1:26-31 says:
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things to shame the strong. He choose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who Has become for us wisdom from God – that is , our righteousness, Holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written ‘Let him who Boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Be assured, the above is what we all bring to the marketplace — foolishness, weakness, baseness and despicableness. With the inevitability of these ignoble qualities, you can be confident that if anything good is produced, all the glory will belong to God.
If you find God’s wisdom, will He bless you in your life and your business? The obvious answer is yes. Does this mean there will be no more problems, or that you will not make any more mistakes? The obvious answer is no. But as you seek God’s will and wisdom His blessings will far outweigh the problems.
A Decision To Seek Wisdom
Seeking wisdom comes down to making a decision. Who is it that you are going to serve? Will you continue to do business as usual, the world’s way, or will you serve God. Some people have said, “you can’t do business that way.” But it can be done. Christ did not say that to follow Him would he mean there would be no more problems. He simply said, “Follow Me.” The decision is really as simple as that. If not now, then when? If not me, then who?
The purpose of any Christian business is the same as the purpose of any Christian, to display the character of God. In business, this is also measured by how well you serve others. As an old saying goes, “A man is measured, not by the number of servants he has, but by the number he serves.”
So what is your decision? Whom do you really trust? Will you trust God and obey His word, or not? In some cases it is that easy. In other cases it is not that clear. Clarity comes from knowing God’s word. In Joshua chapter 24, verse 15, Joshua said:
“. . . choose for yourselves today whom you will serve.”
“But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.“
JOSHUA 24:15
NEXT: Chapter 2: The Civil Law Of Israel
PREVIOUS: Part 1: Biblical Foundations
Chapter 1: Obtaining Wisdom
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Last Updated: 10/2022
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