Proverbs 2:1-22
No one begins their life by saying, “I'm going to ruin my life and wreck my future.” But we see ruined lives everywhere. From the homeless addict to the highly successful miserable executive, people don't set as a goal a “living death,” but there they are. This chapter provides a road map or an outline to get to a wholesome good life. But it will not happen by accident. The process is specific and must be followed.
Step 1: you must want it. Verses 1-15 show us that there must be a passionate search for the way of wisdom. People are good at collecting things. We have seen hoarders or collectors of action figures, comic books, cookbooks—you name it. People are capable of being collectors. We must be passionate about storing up wisdom. This is no casual dabbling but rather a driven effort, the way a prospector looks for precious metals. When we have that kind of passion, we will find wisdom.
Step 2: We find wisdom only in the Lord, verses 6-8. Search all you want; you will never find silver and a chicken house or gold in a sewer. You must look in the right place. Wisdom is only found in the Creator. That is the wisdom that keeps us from being really stupid and protects us from false choices.
Step 3: We will experience an internal change. In verses 9-11 we see a change of desires. As we seek godly wisdom, we will learn that as we find some and collect wisdom, then we want more. Verse 10 is a critical turning point in our maturity. We begin to internalize wisdom, see how wonderful it is, and realize, from the inside out, the delight of wisdom.
Step 4 wisdom protects us from two categories of dangers. First evil men see 1:10-15. There is a danger of trying to get ahead by crooked paths or deals. You can never have a good deal with a bad man. It also protects from the danger of immoral women. If evil men draw us into immoral possessions, evil women can draw us into immoral pleasures. The allure of no-obligation sexual experience is the gateway to death.
The fifth and final step is the good life, verses 20-22. This is what we want but is rarely found because it requires effort, and we tend to take the path of least resistance.
“Lord, keep me on the path of wisdom, regardless of how long or difficult it may be. AMEN
