Hold The Gold

Another April Fool’s Day has come & gone, and hopefully you made it through unscathed by any pranks. I love a good joke, but let’s be honest: does anyone really enjoy being the butt of a joke or made to look or feel like a fool? I think most people would much rather be known for being wise. The Bible offers some serious insights on wisdom that can help guide our lives. The book of Proverbs is packed with wisdom, and it’s fascinating to see how it contrasts the wise against the foolish. 

Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” It’s a reminder that true wisdom starts with a relationship with God. Although it’s not always fun to be corrected or receive constructive criticism, this verse reminds us that those are important parts of growing & becoming wise. 

Another gem from Proverbs is found in 12:15, which states, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” This verse challenges us to evaluate how we approach our decisions. Are we quick to think we’re right, or do we seek counsel from those who might have more experience or insight? Wisdom often involves humility—the willingness to learn and grow. None of us ever get to a point where we know everything about anything. There’s always something to learn. If you’ve ever been around someone who’s a know-it-all, you probably know how off-putting and just plain annoying they are. There’s a lot of value in being humble and admitting that we don’t know everything. Think of Jesus, the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful Son of God. Even with His infinite knowledge of everyone & everything, He was humble. (Philippians 2:7-8) 

Wisdom means not only knowing what to say. Sometimes, being wise means knowing when to not say anything. Our mouths can get us into a lot of trouble! “With lots of words comes wrongdoing, but the wise restrain their lips.” (Proverbs 10:19) There’s often value in silence. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise person quietly holds it back.”  

The Bible doesn’t mince words when it comes to the value & imporatance of wisdom. “How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.” (Proverbs 16:16) That's a pretty heavy statement! Hold the gold...I'll take wisdom instead. Wisdom isn’t just about knowing what’s right; it’s about doing what’s right. Embracing wisdom helps us avoid the pitfalls of foolishness, allowing us to build relationships and foster understanding. God calls us to be wise in our words & actions. That’s a lifelong process and something that we work towards & strive for daily. It takes discipline & determination to look to God for wisdom in every aspect of our lives. Is it always easy? Definitely not. Is it always worth it? Absolutely!