Proverbs - Episode 1Sample

This chapter continues the teaching from Proverbs chapter one on the value of wisdom. Scripture tells us to seek wisdom the same way people seek money or hidden treasure. In other words, wisdom is not something discovered casually. You do not find diamonds lying carelessly on the street. Valuable treasures are usually hidden, protected, and accessible only to those willing to search diligently for them. Wisdom, the greatest treasure available to man, must also be pursued intentionally. This means we must deliberately seek wisdom from the Scriptures, from books written by wise men and women, and from the teachings and counsel of people whose lives consistently produce good results.

What sets wisdom apart from every other treasure is that, despite its immense value, God desires to give it freely to His children. It is God’s will that we become wise, just as He is wise. However, wisdom must be desired and pursued. God’s wisdom does not simply rest upon people who have no hunger for it. The proof of desire is pursuit. If you truly desire wisdom, you will seek it, ask God for it, and position yourself to receive it. Wisdom is free, but it is not cheap.

One of the ways God protects us from danger is through wisdom. Divine protection does not come only through angels; sometimes it comes through wise decisions. When wisdom warns you against certain places, relationships, or associations, and you obey that warning, your wisdom has become your protection.

Just as we learned in Proverbs chapter one, another benefit of wisdom is self-control. Self-control protects us from the traps of seduction and immorality. Wise people do not live only for the pleasure of the moment; they also consider the consequences of their actions long after the pleasure has passed. Wisdom thinks beyond today. It considers the future being shaped by today’s decisions. Anyone driven entirely by pleasure is a fool. That is why Proverbs warns strongly against fornication and adultery. These paths may appear pleasurable at first, but their destination is destruction. As Scripture says, “entering her house leads to death.”