As King Solomon instructed his son in the path of wisdom, he provided sound advice, which he personally failed to keep later in his life. Wisdom is not just about possessing the correct information but ensuring the proper application.
Proverbs 1:1-9
Characteristics of a Wise Person
- A wise person commits to maintaining God’s direction for his or her life (1:2).
- A wise person is eager to receive instruction and correction from others (1:3).
- A wise person is known not by stockpiling information but by demonstrating application (1:3).
- A wise person displays caution when immature desires surface (1:4).
- A wise person never arrogantly assumes he or she has arrived (1:5-6).
- A wise person makes everyday decisions submissive to God’s instructions (1:7).
Environments of a Wise Person
- God’s original plan for guiding the next generation into wisdom has always been the home (1:8-9).
- Parents, you need to be willing to teach the most important lessons to your children.
- Children, you need to be eager to learn from the God-given role models in your life.
Diminishments of a Wise Person
- The irony of these proverbs is that they were written by someone who couldn’t later fulfill them (1:1).
- Solomon asked God for wisdom above any other request (1 Kings 3:7-14).
- Eventually, Solomon could no longer keep in practice what he taught in theory (1 Kings 11:9-10).
- Just because you know wisdom today doesn’t mean that you will apply it tomorrow.
- Jesus – the true son of David – died because we couldn’t keep God’s wisdom but lives so we can yet strive to do so with His help (1:1; cf. 2 Sam. 7:12-13; Matt. 1:1).
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
