“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7
“Wisdom is the principal thing – therefore get it!” This is something the Lord is serious about. By the very words above, getting wisdom is something we need to do something about. We must do the seeking, knocking, asking and making wisdom our priority. Wisdom doesn’t fall on us like ripe cherries off the tree. It involves effort, mind renewal, time in the scriptures and discipline. The word “principal” above is the Hebrew word, reshiyth, (pronounced: ray’-sheeth).
It’s defined in Strong’s Concordance as “the first in place, time, order or rank, beginning, chief(est), first fruits.” The use of the word reshiyth is significant.
It’s telling us that wisdom must be our priority, that is, first in place and time. In other words, wisdom must be first on our agenda each day. The time we give to wisdom will determine our ability to receive understanding and a workable knowledge of the scriptures. Without making it a priority, we will miss the powerful opportunities wisdom gives us.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
The scriptures repeatedly contrast the wisdom of this world with the wisdom of God. We read in James 3:17, “…the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” Then, in I Corinthians 1: 20, it asks us, “hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” The conclusion is, ‘Yes, the simplicity of God’s wisdom, while exploding with power, also reveals the foolishness of the world’s wisdom and its futility.
Man’s wisdom is based primarily on human experience but is also expendable when priorities shift. In other words, its standards are adaptable to human whims and temporary conditions; thereby rendering it a moving goal post.
God’s wisdom, on the other hand, is founded in absolute truth, which is a standard that is inalterable. What God says is spiritual law and sets Covenant precedent that is inalterable! Psalms 89:34 says, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Wisdom knows the integrity of God’s Word, and therefore it is backed by the purity, peace and power of God!
Which of these two forms of wisdom would you like to walk in – man’s or God’s? If you desire the wisdom of God, you can obtain it very easily. The Bible tells you how! James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” It’s ours for the asking – without the School of Hard Knocks diploma, if indeed it is your principal priority!
With Love, Pastor Tom