Solomon also wrote this in Ecclesiastes:
Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:12-13)
If we desire wisdom, it all has to start with reverence for our Almighty God and with an attitude of humility. As a Christian, fearing God is not actually being scared and running from Him. It’s an awareness of Who He is, of His power and His holiness that fills us with awe and makes us fall on our faces before Him. The fear of God makes us hate sin and desire to be more like Him.
I like how Solomon is constantly posing contrasts throughout this book. When I was a new Christian I had a friend who had studied the “buts” of the Bible. She had looked up the word “but” to see where God was making contrasts. Since she told me about it, I’ve circled the word in my Bible when I come to it. Here is the first one in Proverbs: but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Only fools thumb their noses at God and bristle under His discipline. The wise person desires to know His will and sees His discipline as the path to maturity and completeness.
Sometimes when we read God’s Word, we find something that really hits us between the eyes and makes us wince because it is so pointed in its judgment of our hearts. The wise man and woman, rather than turning away in anger, turn to God for instruction at such times, because they know that God only disciplines those whom He loves. Our Heavenly Father wants to make us better! Let’s make a pledge to welcome such discipline as we proceed through this book. It’s the only way we can become wiser!
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