Proverbs: The Call to Exercise Our Hearts in Wisdom
Training is repetitive. I remember being four or five and having an obsession with gymnastics. It started when I watched the Olympics for the first time and I wore my swimsuit because that was the closest thing I had to a leotard. Not long after my newfound obsession took root my parents decided to sign me up for gymnastics. As you can imagine, I did not reach Gabby Douglas’ level in the first week. In fact, I never got close. I remember learning to do cartwheels, the splits, and a backbend. The training was not comfortable, and I recall the coaches gently pushing me to the ground when I was not flexible enough to do the splits.
Training is not a one-and-done deal. It takes constant practice and progress may seem exhaustively slow. Training for gymnastics required stretching and working on exercises over and over and over again.
Looking back at the two years of my “acrobatic career” I can confidently say my skill and flexibility steadily stretched from the span of when I started at five to when I “retired” at seven. Likewise, God is constantly training us to become wise like he is.
Point 1: Truth #1-We are Not Born Wise
“As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” (Prov. 27:19)
When you look in the mirror daily, you have never worried that a different face than your own would show up. We are used to our looks whether it is straight from the bed or in the middle of the day. So what does the heart of man look like? What can be expected when looking in the mirror?
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9)
We are corrupt. Since the garden, the human race has been tainted by immorality. Our desires and thoughts and behaviors have been bred in sin. The saying “follow your heart” is the epitome of bad advice. We were not born wise. Future generations after us will not be born wise. We were born into a sinful world with a sinful heart and we need to be rescued. Being wise in our own eyes is the opposite of wisdom. It is the opposite of being in awe of God and living in holiness.
We are unable to save ourselves from our sinful hearts. Everything a fallen heart produces will only reflect that of the world. Fallen human beings are incapable of being wise according to God’s standards.
Imagine you go to the mechanic to get your car checked out. Later that day you get a phone call from them and they say there are multiple issues with your car. It will not be safe to drive until after the necessary repairs. You then reply that the car is actually fine, they don’t know what they are talking about, and you will pick up the car in an hour. That mechanic would think you are an idiot! You took your car to their shop, they have knowledge you don’t, they saw the car for themselves, and you ignoring their advice will lead to your own downfall. That is what it is like to be wise in your own eyes and it will often lead to your own harm and to the harm of others.
“The saying ‘follow your heart’ is the epitome of bad advice. We were not born wise.”
You may be familiar with Judges. This book in the Bible weaves through Israel highlighting their rebellion. While we may expect books to close with a positive ending that is unfortunately not the case for Judges. The book closes by saying, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judg. 21:25)
We also know how God wiped out humankind, besides Noah and his family, by causing a great flood.
Genesis talks about men’s spiritual state in Noah’s time. “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.” (Gen 6:5-6)
In both of these instances, we find a culture with evil hearts and a people who did what seemed right to them. God handles sinful hearts and minds very seriously. In fact, knowing he is a just and holy God proves that those who don’t turn to him will receive eternal judgment.
Our hearts were like those of the people living in the times of Noah and the Judges. We didn’t want to run to safety or have a king rule our hearts. We can only be wise because the God of the universe decided to save and rule us.
Point 2: Truth #2-We Need to Be Trained
“And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.” (Prov. 8:32-36)
Wisdom is speaking like a father in these verses. Like a child, you can be trained in wisdom by listening and applying its sound advice.
If you are anything like me you wait impatiently for your Amazon packages. I check to see the ETA of the delivery and track its current location all throughout the day. My packages are something I seek out. The same attitude applies when looking for wisdom. There is no end to the profit of wisdom as wisdom is life itself. Listening, persevering, watching, waiting, are things that require training.
So yes, let us train, but it is also essential to realize the only way to receive godly wisdom is to have been adopted in Christ. We have to possess a reverence for the One who IS wisdom. Take seriously what he has established and be in awe of his deity.
“My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend…” (Prov. 7:1-4)
I have heard it said “know what you believe about God now before trials come.” The same thing applies to wisdom. Don’t live foolishly and promise yourself you will try to be wise when you need it. That is stupid. We need to walk and train ourselves in wisdom now. We need to be strong now and resist temptation with the help of the Holy Spirit. Standing strong against sin is a choice but if it wasn’t for the work of God, temptation would be eating us alive. Even as believers we may still fall into temptation. We may sometimes lose the battle more than we oppose the enemy. That’s why we need to be trained and can follow the instructions this father gives.
“we need to walk and train ourselves in wisdom now.”
“Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” (Prov. 8:10-11)
Do you keep your car locked or do you not bother and leave the keys in the ignition? Do you have a passcode on your phone? Do you post your bank information and SSN all over your social media page? Of course not! These things are of high value and we protect what we care about. The same goes with wisdom. We don’t give wisdom up for the sake of foolishness! Wisdom is a prized possession. Looking at verses 10-11 we see that there is a high value in following wise instruction and using wisdom with the knowledge we have.
Remember, wisdom is exercised when we align our heart with the Word of God and practically act upon the things that give him glory. You can use wisdom when making a new purchase, a job change, navigating relationships–everything! Make wisdom a daily companion.
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Prov. 13:20)
Who you love is who you will imitate, and who you imitate is who you will become. So, you become what you love. Who are you trying to mimic? What is your “why” behind it?
Imagine a clear glass of water and let's say you start adding droplets of red dye into the glass. Each drop of dye signifies someone significant in your life. You may say those around you don’t influence you, but just a drop or two of red dye makes your clear water turn red. We need good influences to shape us, but what does the color of your water say about your heart?
When seeking counsel on how to rule his kingdom, Rehoboam ditched the counsel of older, wise men and instead listened to his friends who, as 1 Kings 12:10 says, were “...the young men who had grown up with him..” His friends advised him to treat the Israelites harshly and as a result the kingdom of Israel divided. Rehoboam was a fool and so were the friends who surrounded him.
God created man for community. We were wired to need one another. But, if you want to train for a marathon you don’t train with friends who hate to run. There may not be a greater hindrance than hearing complaining and requests to quit from your peers. If you run with those who are chasing after the same things then their perseverance and encouragement will motivate you. Love the non-believer and the immature Christian but also be discerning with who you have in your circle.
C.S. Lewis says, “The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.” [i] Lewis’ quote is true because as the Proverb says we conform to those who press around us.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Ps. 1:1-2)
A key practice in training is being intentional with what is filling you. Like our bodies, we can ask ourselves what will prove to be healthful for me? Ditch the cake and consume the greens. Like the man in Psalm 1, be mindful where you walk and stand and sit and who you are with when you are going about life.
I want to be clear that this does not mean we refuse to associate ourselves with the lost. That idea would be contrary to Scripture. Evangelism is of high importance. The wise man doesn’t just avoid surrounding himself with the world but he replaces it with the Word of the Lord. He takes joy and spends his time in it.
Training yourself in wisdom means transformation will take place.
Do you want to train your heart to be wise? If so you fear the Lord and you can know who he is by reading who he has revealed himself to be. You not only read about God but you become like him. We are responsible for making wise decisions but we have no part in having the eyes to see godly wisdom. We would hopelessly train in vain if it wasn’t for the trainer who IS and defines wisdom. He has transformed us which is why we can mimic the one who IS wisdom.
“Training yourself in wisdom means transformation will take place.”
Point 3: Truth #3-Biblical Wisdom Starts with God
Life started because of God. In a word, stars mapped out across the galaxies, cells came to life, color bled throughout all parts of creation. The reason we breathe and blink and express emotions is that God said so. When sin slithered in the garden God had already planned out his salvation story. We can’t blink without God. We would have died in our sin without God. We also can’t become wise without God.
“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,” (Prov. 2:1-11)
“The first benefit of wisdom is that one will understand the fear of the LORD. This knowledge is possible only because the Lord gives it to the upright. While wisdom is to be sought diligently, it is not something merited by the actions of an individual.” (emphasis added) [ii]
“We can’t blink without God. We would have died in our sin without God. We also can’t become wise without God.”
John Piper says, “The point is that God must do the decisive, miraculous heart transplant, heart replacement. If we are going to escape the hardness and deadness of that heart, the old heart has to be taken out, a new heart has to be put in–and we can’t do that surgery ourselves. That is the point. This is God’s sovereign, gracious, saving work, and the effect of it is new, tender, obedient love toward God.” [iii]
There is absolutely nothing we have done or contributed to have holy hearts transplanted within us. We are undeserving to have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us. The “training” we are now walking in is sanctification. We are not programmed like robots where we have no control over how we live. Sanctification is a struggle to win righteousness and is a relationship we have with God. He has given us free will and we get to make our own choices all day every day. Our new heart has made us alive and opened our eyes.
Biblical wisdom and eternal life start with God and we can take every day to train ourselves for his glory!
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (Jam. 1:5)
God is not a coach who makes you run or yells in your face when you fail. Unfortunately, many assume that is God’s character and they live their lives either trying to appease God or have decided trying to do so is a lost cause. God knows all of our sins and future failures and still he calls us to run to him. He is loving, patient, and a good Father who does not take pleasure in us walking in our sin but calls us to live in holiness.
When we are hungry for wisdom we can trust the Creator of the universe to satisfy our hearts. A child of the King has privileges no one else has. You never have to be concerned that you make requests to God too often. You never have to worry his wisdom supply will run out. In fact, he delights in hearing your voice again and again and again.
“A child of the King has privileges no one else has.”
So, how are we supposed to grow in wisdom? First, it is dealing with the realization that we are not wise on our own accord. Our eyes are opened and we get to train in wisdom only because of God who sacrificed his Son so we could be adopted as heirs to his eternal Kingdom. As we train in wisdom we will constantly fall short of perfection. But God, in his grace, runs to pick us up and dusts the dirt off us. We get to use wisdom on a daily basis and fear the Lord as we seek to bring him glory. Slowly but surely we will be able to look back at the winding path behind us and see how far the Lord has brought us.
You can use wisdom today as the Lord is brought in on your decisions and as you counsel others and as you drop everything in his hands. May the mundane things of life be soaked in the wisdom God provides for you daily.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Eph. 5:15-17)
[i] C. S. Lewis (2013). “Selected Literary Essays”, p.99, Cambridge University Press
[ii] ESV Student Study Bible, Crossway, 2011, p. 810
[iii]John Piper (2016, September 9). How Can I Soften My Own Heart?. Desiring God. https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/how-can-i-soften-my-own-heart
