Wisdom comes in the ears, through the heart, and out the fingertips (Prov. 4:20-27). This week, we explore the first step in the chain.
My son, be attentive to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings (Prov. 4:20).
Verse 20 describes the first part of the formula. Wisdom enters through our ears. Solomon explained in 2:1-4 that our listening must involve both passively receiving and actively seeking. Here, he alludes to both components: “be attentive” involves reception, and “incline your ear” implies pursuit. We’ve been over this ground before, but we need to hear it many times for it to become second nature.
This first part of the formula involves reading the Bible, hearing it preached in church, and seeking godly fellowship, among other things. The key idea is that wisdom comes from outside of us. You can’t find wisdom by looking within.
This idea is the opposite of Disney’s “follow your heart” ideology.
It conflicts with Obi-Wan Kenobi’s advice to “search your feelings.” It is altogether different from a self-esteem approach to education. You will never get unstuck if you start with a foundation of “you do you.” Wisdom is with God, not inherently inside ourselves. Therefore, wisdom must come to us from outside of us. We must move toward the Lord so we can hear what he has to say.
This post was first published in 2013 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.
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