Proverbs 18:1 KJV
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
I read this chapter of Proverbs in conjunction with Deuteronomy 3-4 this morning and saw a connection.
Deuteronomy 4:6 KJV
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Deuteronomy says that the wisdom and understanding of the Jews was that they kept and did God's commandments. That is a great definition of wisdom; keeping God's commands,
Knowing them
Learning them
Proclaiming them and then
Doing them
Proverbs tells us how to gain this wisdom
There must be desire
A man has to desire the wisdom of God. No one can force us to get the wisdom of God. We must desire it. We must personally want it.
There must be a separation
Those who would gain wisdom must choose to let go of other things. No man clinging to the foolish things of the world can ever hope to have the wisdom of God. Just as an athlete chooses to forsake some of the pleasantries and luxuries of life so his body will be well trained and fit so the Christian who desires wisdom will forsake things of lesser value for this one great prize.
There must be seeking
That means we press ourselves toward it. It will not come by accident. It will not fall into our laps. We will have to pursue it.
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
I read this chapter of Proverbs in conjunction with Deuteronomy 3-4 this morning and saw a connection.
Deuteronomy 4:6 KJV
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Deuteronomy says that the wisdom and understanding of the Jews was that they kept and did God's commandments. That is a great definition of wisdom; keeping God's commands,
Knowing them
Learning them
Proclaiming them and then
Doing them
Proverbs tells us how to gain this wisdom
There must be desire
A man has to desire the wisdom of God. No one can force us to get the wisdom of God. We must desire it. We must personally want it.
There must be a separation
Those who would gain wisdom must choose to let go of other things. No man clinging to the foolish things of the world can ever hope to have the wisdom of God. Just as an athlete chooses to forsake some of the pleasantries and luxuries of life so his body will be well trained and fit so the Christian who desires wisdom will forsake things of lesser value for this one great prize.
There must be seeking
That means we press ourselves toward it. It will not come by accident. It will not fall into our laps. We will have to pursue it.
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