Wisdom is the First Thing.

[Proverbs 4:1-9]

What do you think about the phrase, "Do your best, but don't try to be the best"? This is a quote from Pastor Kim Kyung Won of Seohyun Church, the author of the book 9 Principles Every Pastor Should Know. Of course, the context of this statement is that, as a pastor like me, we should do our best but not strive to be the best in order to avoid burnout. This is because we pastors must constantly be on guard against a mentality of "being the best" (Kim Kyung Won). Personally, I think there is a lot of truth to this. It is noble to do our best for the glory of God in the tasks we are entrusted with, but if the desire to be the best is lurking within us, it could lead us not only to pursue perfectionism but also to fall into the arrogance of seeking our own glory. In other words, rather than striving for the "best" according to our own standards, we should pursue the best that God reveals to us, with all our might. What is that "best"? In today's passage, Proverbs 4:7, the Bible says that it is "wisdom." Look at Proverbs 4:7: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding.” What does this mean? It means "wisdom is the best." Today, I want to meditate on this verse under the title "Wisdom is the First Thing," and reflect on the wisdom that is considered the best in the eyes of God, humbly receiving the grace God gives.

First, let's think about how we can obtain the wisdom that is the best.

In Proverbs 4:7, the writer, King Solomon, tells us that we should be willing to lay down all our possessions to acquire wisdom (verse 7). This shows us just how valuable wisdom is to you and me. So, what should we do to obtain this wisdom, which is as valuable as giving up all our possessions? We must listen to the discipline of our Heavenly Father. Look at Proverbs 4:1: "Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding." The reason we must listen to the discipline of our Heavenly Father to obtain the best wisdom is that He gives us sound teaching (verse 2). Dear friends, the teachings of our Heavenly Father are good. The reason is that our Heavenly Father is good. Therefore, the teachings He gives us must also be good. So, we must receive the good teachings of our Heavenly Father and not depart from them (verse 2). To do this, we must keep His good teachings in our hearts (verse 4). We must also be careful not to forget His good words (verse 5) and follow them (verse 4).

As I meditated on today's passage, I noticed something interesting. Look at Proverbs 4:3: "For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother." Here King Solomon speaks of himself as the "only son" of his parents, David and Bathsheba, and with this background, he teaches his own sons (verse 1). Perhaps Solomon’s teaching was written when he was the only son of his parents. I think this because, besides Solomon, David and Bathsheba had three more sons (1 Chronicles 3:5) (Walvoord). When I meditated on this, I found it fascinating and precious that the wise, God-fearing King David taught his son Solomon, and then when Solomon became king, he taught his own sons as well. How precious it is that my father taught me God's good words, and that I too can teach my children! However, the sad thing is that, as we already know, although David "walked uprightly before the Lord all his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite" (1 Kings 15:5), when Solomon grew old, foreign wives turned his heart to follow other gods, and his heart was not as loyal to the Lord as his father David's was (1 Kings 11:4). In other words, although in today's passage King Solomon instructs his sons to "listen to the instruction of a father" (Proverbs 4:1), and to keep that teaching in their hearts (verse 4), he himself, in his old age, failed to live according to the teachings he gave to his sons, and fell into idolatry, sinning against God. In short, King Solomon’s heart was not fully loyal to God (1 Kings 11:4).

What about King Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who succeeded him as king? He certainly must have received the good teachings (instructions) from his father Solomon, but when Rehoboam's kingdom grew strong and powerful, he became proud and forsook the law of God (2 Chronicles 12:1). As a result, the people of Israel followed Rehoboam’s example (verse 2) and sinned against God. How sad is this? The faith of his grandfather David should have been passed down to Solomon’s son Rehoboam, but in this passage, even Solomon, who instructs his sons to "hear the instruction of a father," ended up straying from David’s teachings and committing the great sin of idolatry, and his son Rehoboam also forsook the law of God. How tragic is this?

We must not stray from the law of our God the Father and sin against Him. We must keep God's good words in our hearts, not forget them, and obey them. When we do this, we will taste God's goodness (Psalm 34:8). In other words, when we obey the good words (teachings) of our earthly grandfather or father, who fear God, we will experience the goodness of God, who works all things together for good (Romans 8:28). To do this, we must trust in the good God. The reason is that without faith, we cannot obey God's good ways (Proverbs 4:2). And without obedience, we cannot taste His goodness. Therefore, we must trust in the good God, place our hope solely in Him, and obey His good commandments in faith (Psalm 34:8). When we do this, both you and I will experience God and His goodness, as He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

The second and final point we need to consider is what blessings God will give us when we obtain the wisdom that is the best in His eyes.

King Solomon tells us three things about this:

(1) When we obtain wisdom, we are protected.

Look at Proverbs 4:6: "Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you." In Proverbs 2:7-8, which we have already meditated on, the Bible says that when we walk in the wisdom we receive from God (verse 6) and perfect our conduct (verse 7), God will protect (preserve) us. In other words, the Bible says that wisdom protects us (Proverbs 2:11). Additionally, in Proverbs 3:23, which we have already meditated on, the Bible says that when we keep wisdom and discretion (verse 21), God will make our paths safe and keep us from stumbling (verse 23). So, wisdom protects us and keeps us safe. Do you believe this Bible verse? When I ask myself this question, one thing becomes clearer and more certain in my heart: without wisdom, we are in danger. In other words, when I do not believe and obey the good words of my Father God, I become foolish, and my faith and heart are exposed to the attacks of the devil, putting me in danger. Especially, the heart, which is the source of life, is in danger when exposed to the devil's attacks. The more dangerous thing is that, in my foolishness, I not only consider my actions to be right (Proverbs 12:15), but I continue doing foolish things (Proverbs 26:11) and even enjoy them (Proverbs 15:14). Without the wisdom that God gives, we are truly in danger. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 7:12: "For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it." The Bible says that wisdom preserves our life. So, what should we do? Shouldn't we strive to obtain this supreme wisdom with all our might?

(2) When we embrace and exalt the best wisdom, it will exalt and honor us.

Look at Proverbs 4:8: "Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor when you embrace her." When we exalt wisdom, wisdom will exalt us. However, if we exalt our own foolishness, that foolishness will humble us. These days, I am facing a serious concern, and because of it, my heart is tense and a bit heavy. The serious concern is "the corruption of the ministry." I fear that I might unknowingly become corrupt, hiding God's glory in my pride and sinning. In the midst of this concern, as I meditate on Proverbs 4:8, I realize that in my corruption, I have the risk of exalting my own wisdom rather than God's wisdom, and exalting myself rather than exalting God. In such pride, I realize that trying to exalt myself before God and people only results in exalting my own foolishness. The result is that God will inevitably humble me. Therefore, I want to obey the words of King Solomon in this passage and exalt the wisdom that is the best in God's eyes, and embrace that wisdom. Rather than exalting and glorifying myself, I pray that God will exalt me and glorify me.

We must obtain the wisdom that is the best in God's eyes. To do this, we must humble ourselves and, with a heart that fears God, obey His good ways (teachings) in faith. Just as Jesus obeyed the will of God the Father to the point of dying on the cross, we must obey the Lord's will to the point of death. In doing so, just as God exalted Jesus and gave Him the name above all names (Philippians 2:9), God will also exalt us.

(3) When we embrace wisdom, which is the best, wisdom will make us beautiful.

Look at today’s text, Proverbs 4:9: “He will place a beautiful garland on your head and give you a glorious crown.” Here, King Solomon personified “wisdom” as a woman. He is saying that when we embrace wisdom like that woman, wisdom will make us beautiful. Look at Ezekiel 16:14: “Your fame spread among the Gentiles because of your splendor, for your splendor was perfect through the splendor I have put on you,” declares the Lord God. Ultimately, when we acquire wisdom, which is the best in God’s eyes, God will make us and you completely splendored and our fame will spread among unbelievers. What a precious blessing this is!

I would like to conclude my meditation on the Word. We must do our best to acquire wisdom, which is the best in God’s eyes. In order to obtain this wisdom, which is valuable as we have staked our own, we must listen to the good instruction of our Heavenly Father, take it to heart, and practice it. Then, the wisdom will protect us, exalt us, and give us a glorious crown. I hope this blessing will be with you and me.