How Do I Get Wisdom?

Get Wisdom! James 1:5  “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Prov. 4:5  “Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.” Prov. 4:7  “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” Prov. 16:16  “How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.” How?

What do Wise People do to be Wise? Prov. 10:8  “The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.” Prov. 10:14  “The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.” Prov. 18:15  “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Prov. 19:20  “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.”

Listen with Intent Prov. 2:1-5  "My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."

Listen with Intent Prov. 4:13  “Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.”  Prov. 22:17  “Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge” Prov. 23:12  “Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.”

Not Always Pleasant I can figure it out myself! Prov. 14:12  “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”  Prov. 16:25  “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”  Prov. 28:26  “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”

Not Always Pleasant Church should provide helps in learning. Titus 2:3-5  "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." Gal. 6:1  “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

Not Always Pleasant Some will just refuse to listen. Prov. 15:12  “A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.”  Prov. 9:7  “Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.”

Not Always Pleasant These are fools and will come to a bad end. Prov. 13:18  “Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.” Prov. 15:5  “A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.” Prov. 29:1  “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.” 

Not Always Pleasant Even for the wise, instruction is not always fun. Prov. 10:17  “Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.” Prov. 12:1  “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” Prov. 15:31  "The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.  Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence." Prov. 27:6  “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

Practically, How do I Seek Out Wisdom? Choose your companions with care. Prov. 14:7  “Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.”  Prov. 13:20  “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Practically, How do I Seek Out Wisdom? Seek out Counselors. Prov. 11:14  “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Prov. 15:22  “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” Prov. 20:18  “Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.” Prov. 24:6  “for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”

Prov. 4:10-13  "Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.  I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.  When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.  Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life."