Yesterday, we saw that Solomon’s third purpose in Proverbs (Prov 1:4-5) is to transform the simple into the wise, and the wise into the wiser. Today, we’ll explore how we ought to respond to this call.
Some of us should be comforted by this third purpose. It means that I can start where I am and just move forward from here. It’s okay if I’m not as far down the road as that other guy. What matters is that I get moving in the right direction. I shouldn’t sit still, lamenting the fact that I’m not as wise or mature in Christ as I should be or would like to be. I should just do something. Anything. If this description connects with you, then Proverbs 4:18 can be your theme verse: “the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” You haven’t hit the sunrise yet, so just keep moving down the path.
Others of us need to be rebuked by this third purpose. It means that I have tried to get by with being “simple” for far too long. I’ve been a Christian for 10, 20, 30 years or more, and I’m still content to have minimal involvement, minimal influence, and minimal responsibility. I’m happy to receive the church’s resources, investment, service, and instruction; but I’m unwilling to be a part of giving resources, investment, service, or instruction for the good of others. This attitude is simply unacceptable for a Christian called to wisdom.
It should be assumed that different people have different capacities and rates of acceleration in their growth in wisdom. That fact is not in question here. Rather, the chief question is are you accelerating at all or just sitting still in your walk with Christ? You can only remain simple for so long before you become a fool; but the proverbs extend much hope that it doesn’t have to be that way. So let’s add this new component to our definition.
Wisdom is:
- Knowing the right thing to do in any particular situation.
- Doing it.
- Always improving at both knowing and doing.