This first chapter of Proverbs goes on to say that wisdom resists temptation (v 10), and to refuse wisdom will lead to death (v 32).

The next chapter outlines some of the benefits of wisdom. A person having wisdom will come to "understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding" (2:5, 6) - to know God and have His wisdom, which in turn results in victory and protection (2:7, 8).

In verse nine of chapter two we have a repeat of the three words previously mentioned. When you have wisdom, "you will understand what is right and just and fair -- every good path."

The writer goes on to explain, “For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men." (2:10-12) It will also save you from the "adulteress" (v.16) - a theme repeated often throughout the Proverbs.

Proverbs chapter three lists some of the blessings that accrue to the person who has wisdom: prolonged life and prosperity (v.2), health (v.8) and wealth (v.13ff) - wisdom will even enable one to be attractive (v.22), and sleep well (v.24).

And that's just the opening section of an entire book promoting the virtues of wisdom. The simple, clear message of Proverbs can be stated in two words, "Get Wisdom." In fact this phrase can be found five times in this collection of sayings:

Proverbs 4:5 - Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.

Proverbs 4:7 - Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Proverbs 16:16 - How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!

Proverbs 17:16 - Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?

Proverbs 23:23 - Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.

Also, we understand that the word "get" in the Hebrew is the word "qanah" (kaw-naw'), and it means "to erect, i.e. create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase; by implication to own: -- attain, buy, get, possess."

Our question is, but how? How do we "get wisdom"?

First, we ask for it. That's what James, the brother of Jesus wrote, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

We all know that in both Matthew and Luke there’s an account of Jesus teaching His Disciples what we now call "The Lord's Prayer." In Luke, right after He finishes this prayer, Jesus tells a story about a man who cajoles his friend to get out of bed at midnight to give him three loaves of bread so he can feed his visitors. Then Jesus adds these familiar words, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Then changing the scene from friendly neighbor to that of family, Jesus continues: "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?" The answer to these questions is unspoken, but obvious, so Jesus continues, "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:9-13)

But what does this have to do with wisdom?

In the Book of Acts, chapter 6, we have the account of the early church needing to expand its leadership team, and the Apostles set the criteria for deciding who would be qualified for these positions. Listen in as the instructions are given, "Choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom." (Acts 6:3)

What is important to see is that these two elements, "Spirit and wisdom" should not be seen as two totally separate items. The little word "and" in this case carries the idea of "even" - that is to say, these men should demonstrate that they have the Spirit, even the Spirit of wisdom. And let's not forget that among the "spiritual gifts" mentioned in I Corinthians 12 is the "word (message) of wisdom." At the end of that same chapter, Paul exhorts, "Eagerly desire the greater gifts." Certainly one of the greater gifts is this gift called "wisdom." "Get wisdom." And we get it by asking for it.

But there are additional ways to acquire wisdom.

Within the fourth chapter of Philippians is one of my favorite Bible passages. There Paul is writing about peace, and says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8, 9)

Put this together with what James writes: "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:17, 18)

What we want to see here is the connection between peace and wisdom - they are very closely related with each other. The truly wise person is a peaceful person. But then look again at the Philippian passage; there are two important elements in bringing about peace, and, we believe with it, wisdom. These practices leading to wisdom are: thinking the right thoughts and following the right people.

First the thinking part. Wisdom cannot be divorced from the activity of the mind. On Thursday night in our Deacon meeting devotional I explained that in the Old Testament, the word for "heart" is not limited to mean only the emotions (as we tend to think of it) , but the "heart" includes all three of the important inner workings of our souls, i.e., feelings, will, and intellect.

Look at the connection between the heart and wisdom, first of all in the Psalms:

"My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding." (Psalms 49:3)

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalms 90:12)

We can see this relationship between heart and wisdom in the story of Solomon, of whom it was said that his "wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt." (I Kings 4:30)

In the previous verse in Kings it says that "God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding (KJV = "largeness of heart") as measureless as the sand on the seashore." (I Kings 4:29) Later in the same book is written these words, "The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart." (I Kings 10:24)

Solomon was speaking of himself when he wrote, "I devoted myself (KJV = "I applied my heart") to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven." "I thought to myself (KJV = "I communed with mine own heart"), 'Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.'" (Ecclesiastes 1:13, 16)

The connection between wisdom and the heart is found in many verses within Proverbs.

"For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul." (Proverbs 2:10)

"A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction." (Proverbs 16:23)

"My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right." (Proverbs 23:15, 16)

"Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path." (Proverbs 23:19)

So acquiring wisdom is connected to the activity of the heart that we call thinking - we need to slow down and think. Meditation, contemplation, and reflection are exercises which must not be abandoned. Once when I was taking my 4th grade daughter to school she suddenly commented, "Daddy, do you know what bumper sticker I like the best?" "No, what is it?" I asked. She said, "Think - there's so little competition."

To "get wisdom" we must, in the words of the Apostle, "Think on these things."

But Paul adds something else to the mix; he also says, "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -- put it into practice." Clearly, Paul is holding himself up as a model for others to follow. We may think that this sounds bold and possibly even arrogant, but there's truth to the idea that wisdom is "caught" as well as "taught." If you hang around with people who are wise, you will become wiser. This isn't about trying to be socially upwardly mobile. It's not about getting good names and phone numbers in your little black book, or having names for "name dropping" sessions. It's about receiving the benefit God wants to bring to your life through the good and wise people that are available to you. Listen to how this is expressed in the Proverbs: "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." (Proverbs 13:20)

So this is how we "get wisdom" - praying to God, thinking right thoughts, keeping good company, and finally, if you don't mind my saying it, reading good books, starting with the Bible.

Many people know by heart what Paul wrote to Timothy, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15) And we know that when Paul said "study," what he really meant was to say "do your best" or "be eager" to be approved by God - it's not just about book study. However, we can't neglect the latter part of this verse, and realize that we must become capable interpreters of this Word of God, and that must include faithful and careful reading and study of God's Word, the Bible.

Christians will never cease being "people of the Book." Or if we do, we will soon wander from the faith ". . . that was once for all entrusted to the saints." (Jude 1:3) Just look at what happened in South America - only within the last few decades have believers begun to emerge from the darkness of superstition brought about by the church's unwillingness to let its people read the Bible for themselves. Let's not go back there. Let's be faithful to read the Word, meditate on the Word and apply the Word to our everyday lives. Then we have a chance of becoming more and more like Jesus of whom it is written that He ". . . grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52)

A rather successful advertising campaign has promoted the drinking of milk by asking, "Got Milk?" This ad campaign was started way back in 1933 by the California Milk Processor Board. Believe it or not, The first full year the campaign was running in California, residents drank 15 million gallons more milk than they had the previous year. That was the first time in 20 years that consumption increased.

I would like to suggest that it is far more important to ask, "Got Wisdom?"

Will you do it? Will you "get wisdom"?

1. Who was the author, and what is the overriding theme of the Book of Proverbs?

2. What is your definition of wisdom, and how does wisdom differ from such things as information, education, and knowledge?

3. If wisdom enables a person to resist temptation, how does that work?

4. What are some of the blessings that come to the person who possesses wisdom?

5. Why do you agree with the idea that wisdom is more valuable than gold or silver?

6. How do these three dance together: wisdom, prayer and the Holy Spirit?

7. Obviously wisdom is closely related to the thought-life of the Christian. What can we do to correct unwanted thoughts and develop beneficial ones?

8. How can our friends and associates impact the development of wisdom? What control can we exercise over this area of our daily lives?

9. Do you think it was arrogant of Paul to hold himself up as an example for other people to follow? Aren't we only supposed to follow Jesus?

10. What part does the Bible and the Holy Spirit play in our acquisition of wisdom?

11. Why is it that many Christians have neglected the reading and studying of the Bible, and what are some of the possible consequences?

12. "Got wisdom?" Do you want to get it?