The Priceless Pursuit of Wisdom

In Proverbs 3 and 4, Solomon emphasises the value of wisdom. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you can desire can equal her. He says she is the tree of life, that she will exalt you and honour you. That wisdom itself founded the earth. So the value of wisdom is everything that exists—even among what is bad—and wisdom hates what is evil because it established what is good. That is the value of wisdom.

Even if you took away Solomon’s descriptions of jewels and silver, think of your strongest desire or want, and wisdom is greater than that.

So if that’s the case, we aren’t just called to admire wisdom. In Proverbs 3 and 4, Solomon’s repeated instruction is to get wisdom, guard it, and maintain it. He also says, “do not be wise in your own eyes.” What does that mean?

A wise man is not wise for himself alone; a wise man shares his wisdom but is also open to listening and to instruction. A Christian should always be teachable, and discernment allows you to receive the necessary correction you need to implement to better yourself as a child of God, because God disciplines those He loves. It is only a fool who cannot receive instruction, and Proverbs 1 describes those who flee from it.

You cannot hold wisdom in isolation. Truth is not personal to one person alone—it is lived and witnessed. Imagine if Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself with no witnesses and left His story to be discovered randomly—would it carry the same weight? Wisdom, as a Christian, is meant to have impact.

It is known to be a popular scripture among Christians—tattooed, in Instagram bios, even on welcome mats and bedroom walls: Proverbs 3:5–6.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

One thing I have realised in my journey with Christ is that the way you relate to people in your life will reflect the relationship you have with God. You will not treat God better than what you know. So if you have never wholeheartedly trusted someone, you may struggle to trust God, which can lead you to lean on your own understanding—even in how you try to trust Him.

When you are used to having many options or figuring things out on your own, that straight path can look unfamiliar—maybe even boring—rather than disciplined and peaceful. For some people, this comes from their first relationships, like parents. Your parents can be your first impression of God. For others, it may be a pastor, a friend, or a relationship, which can sometimes distort the understanding of love that God intended for us to have.

But that is why He asks us to know Him.

In all your ways—in heartache, in confusion, in celebration—know that He shows up for you. Not the people who were supposed to represent Him. Not because they aren’t worthy, but because they are not Him, and they can fail to show you what was truly meant for you.

Let’s go deeper into Proverbs 4, which speaks of wisdom and says to guard it, for it is your life.

Did Jesus prepare the disciples for His death or for life after His resurrection?

He prepared them for both, but especially for what was to come after. Because He is wise, He revealed things with understanding of what they could carry. Even when one rebuked His death out of love, Jesus rebuked that response because He was operating in wisdom. A foolish man would have been led by emotion, but wisdom guards what must be fulfilled.

Guard it, because it is your life.

What must you lose to serve the Lord wholeheartedly? Your life. And in turn, you gain wisdom with this new life.

It is a shallow belief to simply wait and assume God will make everything happen. We are all called to do something before we wait. There are two requirements:

First, we must pray. We must go before our Father and ensure that our request is aligned with Scripture and His will for our lives.

Secondly, we must act. Proverbs 4 finishes with “carefully consider the path for your feet.” That care is in prayer, and then your ways will be established. If you have given God your plans, Proverbs advises you not to turn to the right or to the left, but to keep your feet from evil. It is instruction to move forward—to act on your prayer and trust that the Lord has heard you.

Wisdom, as spoken in Proverbs 2, will then cover and protect you.

There is authority God has given every individual in their life to walk in purpose, and the loud “yes” we may expect is not always how God responds. Sarah Jakes Roberts spoke about how Jesus healed blind people in different ways. For one, it didn’t work the first time—it tested his faith.

The way you act after prayer is a response to your prayer. Wisdom is a response to prayer. So what is your act of wisdom this week?

I pray you receive and maintain sound wisdom and discretion. That you do not lose sight of them. That they will be life to you and an adornment for your neck. That you will go safely on your way and your foot will not stumble. That when you lie down, you will not be afraid, and your sleep will be pleasant. That this week, God will favour you and make your path straight. In Jesus name,

Amen.