| I
remember it like it was yesterday. I was a teenager at Florida
College, full of energy and life, feeling like I could take on
the world. I was going to be successful. I was going to be
somebody. I had so many things I wanted to do, places I wanted
to visit, goals I wanted to accomplish. And considering just
how smart I thought I was, there was no doubt all those dreams
would come true.
Maybe you’re
at a similar stage in life, ready to spread your wings and
take the world head on, making your own way. It may be you
feel just the opposite, completely overwhelmed by what’s
ahead, not knowing what you want to do with your life, not
feeling ready to spread your wings just yet.
The book of
Proverbs is such a practical book. It can help you no matter
in which of these situations you find yourself. One of the
purposes of the proverbs, says Solomon, is to give
“knowledge and discretion to the youth” (Prov. 1:4). The
American Heritage Dictionary defines discretion as “ability
or power to decide responsibly”. That’s where most young
people are lacking, and that’s why the book of Proverbs is
so important to the young. For those of you that are young,
listen carefully to what he has to say and follow his advice.
You will be glad you did for many years to come.
From the
outset, he makes the point that you need wisdom.
Although it’s true you become wiser as you grow older and
gain more experience, there are plenty of old fools in the
world to show that’s not all it takes. Wisdom is not the
result of osmosis; it’s the result of hard work. Notice all
the action verbs Solomon uses to describe how you attain
wisdom. He says you must “cry out for discernment,”
“seek her,” and “search for her” (2:3-4). In 4:5, he
says, “Get wisdom! Get understanding!” You must “take
firm hold of instruction” (4:13). All these statements show
that you must be active in your pursuit of wisdom, not
passive. It takes effort. However, the tremendous benefits far
outweigh the effort.
What’s so
interesting about this search for wisdom is that wisdom wants
to be found. She is calling aloud, begging people to listen
(1:20ff). In the busy and loud market square, she’s
competing with all the other street hawkers who are trying to
persuade you to buy their wares. Pay no attention to them.
Open your ears and your eyes and call out for wisdom to make
sure you find her and she finds you. Wisdom is the best
product available on the market.
It’s not just
any wisdom that Solomon recommends. He makes the point
repeatedly that wisdom comes from God. This
is the wisdom for which the father wants his son to search
diligently. Ten times, the fear of the Lord is equated with
the beginning of knowledge, wisdom, or results that arise from
its proper use. Worldly wisdom matters little in the grand
scheme of things. However, wisdom from God gives knowledge and
understanding so one can choose the paths that lead to
righteousness and forsake the crooked paths that lead to
wickedness (2:6ff).
People increase
in worldly wisdom every day, but in the process they often
become fools, rejecting the wisdom of God. People often think
they are smart, when in reality they are ignorant. It stems
from putting the wrong emphasis on the source of knowledge.
When you are young, the world seems fresh, new, and exciting,
and it can be easy to have the wrong perspective. It can be
easy to observe those that have wealth, prestige, power, and
education, and look to them as the source of knowledge and
wisdom. But the first place you should look for wisdom is to
God and His word. Doing so will lead to life and satisfaction
(19:23). Solomon tells his son to trust in the Lord, not in
his own understanding (3:5). Since the Lord is the source of
all wisdom, that’s the obvious place to start.
Parents
are also a great source of wisdom, especially if they
are faithful Christians. Remember, your parents were your age
once, and as Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, “there is nothing
new under the sun.” They’ve been through exactly what
you’re going through, which means they have a greater
understanding of you than you give them credit for. The rules
and decisions they make are grounded in the Word and are
designed to keep your soul from the evil one. Heeding their
instruction will give you “length of days and long life,”
and that will bring you peace as well as help you “find
favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man” (3:2,4).
Part of being
wise is being humble. Isn’t it ironic that Solomon’s own
son, Rehoboam, didn’t heed to the precept of submitting to
those who are wiser? Instead, he listened to his own youthful
peers. Of course, that resulted in rebellion and in the
Divided Kingdom. Listening to the instruction and advice of
those who are older is highly recommended, and the first place
to start is your parents.
The stage of
life you are in can be one of the most exciting times, but it
can also be one of the most difficult. Satan knows this and
will exploit every possible means to make you stumble. Don’t
listen to his lies! “Get wisdom! Get understanding!” Your
life here will be better for it, and so will your eternal
life. |
