The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:7 (CSB)

The book of Proverbs is found in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. It was written primarily by Solomon, king of Israel, to whom God gave “a wise and understanding heart” (1 Kings 3:12), so much so that he “surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and in wisdom” (1 Kings 10:23). Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Solomon compiled some of this wisdom into the book of Proverbs, and his words are as relevant now as they were 2900 years ago.

But what is wisdom anyway? And how is it relevant to us as believers?

King Solomon tells us the foundation of all knowledge and wisdom, “the fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). Fearing God doesn’t mean that we should be afraid of God like we might be afraid of spiders or snakes, or even of divine punishment, since “there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Rather, it means that we should have the proper reverence for God, as He is perfectly holy, righteous, and just.

This reverence encompasses loving and respecting God, but it goes beyond that, including a healthy fear of God’s power and the consequences of sin. I think of it this way: not everyone is terrified of heights, but almost no one would walk on the edge of a cliff since they have a reasonable fear of falling off the edge. In the same way, it’s reasonable for us to fear the consequences of sinning against a perfect God, and we should respond to that fear by taking action to obey and follow God. This is the foundation of wisdom.

So does wisdom simply mean making smart choices, like how we might say that someone is wise with their finances? Well, that’s certainly a part of it. But the wisdom described in Proverbs is more than that; it includes our moral obligations to God. Thus, if we don’t know God, if we don’t actively seek Him, then we can never truly have wisdom.

That brings us to the second part of this verse, “fools despise wisdom and discipline”. Now, Solomon is not insulting people who might be less intelligent, he’s referring to those in active rebellion against God. No one can be wise without fearing the Lord, so if someone rejects God, they naturally reject the wisdom that comes from Him. Though we have been made children of God, there are times when we reflect this stubbornness, refusing to submit our lives to God’s word but instead following worldly wisdom. But God always gives us the opportunity to repent, to turn from the path we’re on and return to Him.

As believers, growing in our relationship with God includes growing in godly wisdom and seeking to diligently follow His word. Let us not act as fools, refusing to accept guidance from the Creator of the universe, but humble children of God, seeking Him above all else.

If you want to continue to grow in wisdom, follow “The Word Shirts” blog. For the next 31 days, we’ll be going through the book of Proverbs, looking at the timeless wisdom from God and applying it practically to our lives. I would love to hear your thoughts or comments.

Blessings,

Joleen