The Proverbs of the wise make up one of the books of Wisdom literature in the Bible. That book contains the "sayings of the wise;” men like Solomon, Agur, Lemuel, and men of Hezekiah's court.
Perhaps this book is dated. While not obscure, perhaps the Proverbs are not read as frequently as the Psalms. After all, it is a collection of sayings from men who lived 4,000 years ago. How can they possibly say anything worthwhile to us? Then again, Solomon was gifted with incredible wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-31). We would do well to consider his words as rather valuable.
What concerns us today is how Solomon's wisdom can be used to make our Christian worldview stronger and more biblical. I have been interested in worldview for years, and I consider it part of my Christian duty to submit every aspect of my life to the rule of Jesus Christ; my mind would certainly fall under that category.
The book of Proverbs lays out its aim with these words: "To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, ... to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth..." (Proverbs 1:2-4).
Solomon the Wise sets out to take his reader by the hand and show the way of wisdom. He wants his hearers to apply all of his godly wisdom and insight to every area of their lives. Like a wise shepherd, Solomon wants his people to follow the voice of God because he knows this is the path of peace, joy, and fulfillment.
I was raised in a house where we read the Proverbs every morning from the time I was ten until I went off to college. In various translations, little tidbits of verses still come to mind in certain situations. I was blessed to be raised in a home that took God at His word.
But I was also subjected to the howling voices of the world through television, certain friends, and my years at a secular college. Satan will not be silenced by a creature as frail as I. Even so, the seed of the Word was planted in my heart and mind. The field of my heart was plowed through years of church attendance, Bible study, several years of Christian education, and by parents who took seriously their responsibility to bring me up under Christian influences.
I am a believer in the depravity of my heart, however. I know myself. I know how quick I am to leave a sermon and, within minutes, my mind, which had been so moved, turns back into its own dark corners.
Nevertheless, these years of Bible study did affect my view of the world and my perspective of life. I ran away from what I knew to be true for years. I fled from the "Hound of Heaven" until God saved me from myself. Like the child who runs from his mother who weeps for his soul, I wanted to live for fun and money and pleasure and anything but God. But I couldn't completely pluck out that seed of the gospel that was germinating in the field of my heart. My parents dragged me to church with them, and I kept telling myself that I wasn't going to give up the rights to my life.
Jesus refused to give up. Those seeds my parents and my pastor planted in my heart—those books they put into my hand—had their effect.
How could I refuse a King who is so powerful that He can speak to me through years of self-inflicted pain? How could I get these Sunday school verses out of my head? Why do I keep reading novels and loving the virtue that is in these characters when I refuse to live a virtuous life? How could I change who I am and what I like? Why is this Jesus such a powerful, captivating, and pivotal figure? Why can't I just put Him in a box?
I now know the answer to that last question. I can't put Jesus into a closet because He must be King.
The Proverbs recommend knowledge, understanding, and wisdom as the highest things we can attain in life. This last item is what Solomon asked God for. God came to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask what I shall give you." When Solomon humbly asked for "wisdom and knowledge," it pleased the Lord. God was pleased that the king did "not ask for possessions, wealth, or honor ... and have not even asked for long life ... wisdom and knowledge are granted to you." Then He adds, "I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor" (2 Chronicles 1:7-12).
Now, I am not going to tell you that if you read the Proverbs every day for the rest of your life, God will appear to you in a dream and offer to give you the desires of your heart. That would be terrible hermeneutics. It would be misinterpreting a beautiful truth.
God values wisdom in His children. He gives them wisdom through His Word. When we read the Bible with open hands and open hearts, when we pray to God for the wisdom to live life before Him, then and only then can we be "the aroma of Christ to God." Only then can we be "a fragrance of life to life." (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)) Solomon described God’s value of knowledge and wisdom saying, “How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver” (Proverbs 16:16).
Joseph Crampton got his college degree in 2014 but apparently didn't get enough of college. He plans to enroll in the Masters program at Regent University to study Public Policy and Administration. In his free time he reads the news, literature, and theology books.
