Pursuing Wisdom

"Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips" (Prov. 22:17-18).

Solomon is urging he readers to pay attention to the wise sayings within the book. One of the purposes of the book of Proverbs is to teach the unlearned in skilled living. How does one come to walk in wisdom? One learns by listening to and imitating the wise. If we are to become wise, we must be guided by the wise.

Solomon informs that reader that they need to incline their ear. It is a picture of one honing in on what is being said. They are leaning in the direction of the speaker, straining to hear what is said. It is an image of attentiveness. They incline their ears so that they may hear the words of the wise. To "hear" the words of the wise, means more than allowing the words to move the eardrums. It means they are to pay attention to those words. Solomon drives the point home by telling them to "apply your heart" to his knowledge. They are give themselves over to the pursuit of understanding all the teacher has spoken, for his words are life.

Diligent study comes with the promise: "it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips" (Prov. 22:18). Things are pleasant in the sense that the wise avoid many foolish situations that would otherwise lead them to hardship. The promise of pleasantness is not a promise of unending wealth and health. The promise means that by choosing wisdom, they will have confidence in their decisions no matter what the outcome, because they have placed themselves into the care of their Lord, who is a strong tower.

As we come to faith in Christ, we are called to walk in wisdom. That is, we are called to lived as disciples skilled at pleasing our Lord. If we have inclined our ear to hear his words and have applied our hearts to his knowledge, then it will be pleasant as we keep them and have them ready on our lips. As we fill our hearts with the Word of Christ, that Word transforms our heart. It teaches us how to walk in the way that pleases him. As we grow in knowledge of our Lord and Savior, we grow in wisdom. As we walk in obedience, we walk in wisdom. It is a pleasant journey, not because their is no difficulty, but because we know that as we apply his teaching to our lives, Christ is pleased with us, and enables us to continue on the journey.