they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
-Proverbs 1:28-33
So I was prepping for a Bible study for tomorrow on Proverbs 1:20-33 (The Calling of Wisdom), and my mind came to a pause while I was analyzing these verses. I think part of the reason I was so taken aback by them was that they seemed so contrary to God’s nature…isn’t He supposed to be a God who delights in giving us all good things? Surely, with something so noble as wisdom, He wouldn’t withhold such abundant blessings from His beloved children…….right? How can this be the same God that delivers His people from all evil, if He isn’t even willing to help us do it in our time of need?
As I reflect upon these verses more, I think I’m realizing that the issue is not in my perceptions of God’s response, but rather, in my own contorted view of wisdom to begin with. My approach towards wisdom, I’m finding, is one that I use to fulfill my needs, rather than one that I use for God’s higher purposes. The image that sticks out in my mind is that wisdom is not meant to be a fire alarm, but a fire extinguisher. Although these devices are both used in addressing the same problem (fire), they signify entirely different responses to the issue. To me, the fire alarm represents an avoidant approach towards fire- you just pull it and sit there praying that help arrives soon before the flames engulf you. On the other hand, the fire extinguisher entails a response of a more confrontational nature. You don’t shy away from the threat, but rather, the possession of the extinguisher empowers you in a way that the fire alarm never could- it gives you the courage and capacity to retaliate. I think this parallels my own personal experience with wisdom in recent months. It’s not meant to be an “easy out” that somehow makes my problems go away without any exertion of effort on my part; to view it in such a manner is to diminish the dignity wisdom deserves. Rather, it’s a tool and weapon for working through my struggles. With regards to the problems I face, this means the difference between a response of panicking retreat, or proactive retaliation. And in turn, this can mean the difference between me merely being grateful that a storm has passed, or a deeper relationship with a God who is madly in love with me.
Sometimes I examine my life, and honestly, all things considered, life is good. I have an innumerable amount of blessings to be grateful for, and there aren’t any pressing catastrophes or tragedies on the immediate horizon. In short, it’s a season of plenty. This can be dangerous, though, in the sense that I may let my guard down, or that I may be so complacent with the status quo that I enter a state of mental cruise control. On the contrary, though, this is the exact time in which I need to be stockpiling Godly wisdom. From this passage, I noticed that wisdom is a living, active being, one that requires time to be properly internalized and processed before it can be used most effectively. I only hope that, when that time comes, that I’ll have spent the time cultivating the tools that I need to be ready.
God, please nurture within me the wisdom I require for the forthcoming battles I will face.
