In 1979 it was recorded that knowledge was exploding at such a rapid rate that more than 2,000 pages worth of new information was being produced every minute. That means you could read twenty-four hours a day from age 21 to 70, retaining all you read, and when you finished you would be one and a half million years behind. In 2006 a study found that the rate at which we compile information grows by 66% each year. With the information age becoming more competitive and busier all the time, what peace we have in owning the one book that contains the sum of Divine wisdom and yet never changes. Yet, how often do we ignore that potential of wisdom? Our greatest need is going to be many people’s greatest regret because the Bible pleads that we put every ounce of effort we have into pursuing and projecting wisdom.
Title: With All Thy Getting, Get It
Text: Proverbs 4:5-7
Main Point: We have a responsibility pertaining to God’s word that is simple and 3-fold: know it, live it, and share it. But it is that responsibility that brings to mind another statement of Solomon’s: “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:5-7). Inherent in this command is the need to apply every strength and effort that we have to gaining that understanding and wisdom, but why?
Discussion Points:
§ It’s Possible to Get Wisdom – If one stereotype of the Bible is prevalent in this world it is that the Bible is too complicated to understand. Now it is true that the depth of the Bible cannot be fully comprehended; however, to say that it is impossible to grasp the basic meaning of the Bible to such an extent that one can obey it unknowingly denies the justness of God. Knowing truth is the only avenue by which man can be made free (John 8:32), so if man cannot come to know truth, he cannot be made free. The Bible makes the case for the possibility of wisdom (Ephesians 3:1-4; 5:15-17). But it is going to require great effort, thus we must invest all of our being into our pursuit of wisdom in order for its possibility to become reality. It is possible to obtain wisdom but we must covet it earnestly.
§ It’s Profitable to Get Wisdom – The great contrast of life is well represented by Paul words in Romans 6:23. Will we choose life or death? We can either choose the works of the flesh resulting in death or the fruit of the Spirit resulting in life (Galatians 5:16ff). With this evidence we can make an educated decision as to which shall ultimately be the more profitable choice. Scripturally, it is evident that the greatest profit in life comes by pursuing true wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 3:13; 8:11; 16:16; 19:8). The testimony of all departed souls would unanimously proclaim the need there is to gain wisdom above anything else in this world (Luke 16:27-28). There is profit in wisdom!
§ It’s Prudent to Get Wisdom – When all men truly pursue wisdom all men shall be united. After all, the Bible is a unifying book, not a dividing book (1 Corinthians 1:10; Acts 20:32). So when men truly become concerned with being encouragers and unifiers we will all combine forces under the standard of Christ and the direction of His word. Until that time the work of God simply cannot be successful to its fullest capacity. Jesus said that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:24-26). Thus it would be most prudent for all Christians to seek true wisdom that we might unite and work together in harmony (Proverbs 4:6).
Something as grand and glorious as wisdom should be a principal desire in our lives. The promises it makes are too great to ignore. If we are not seeking after wisdom we are truly missing it all.
-Andy Brewer
