Our lives often present decisions, situations, or circumstances that require wisdom. Thankfully, the Book of Proverbs offers us wisdom from our Father.

Why does wisdom matter?

As a young boy, my dad taught me to pray for wisdom. I’m so glad he did. I would listen to his prayers for wisdom for himself and for others, including me. It wasn’t long before my prayers started to echo his.

I’m so thankful I learned to pray for wisdom. I have lost count of the situations I have often found myself in that require wisdom. I don’t profess to be wise, just practical enough to realize my need for God’s wisdom.

Every Christian needs wisdom for life. James tell us to pray for wisdom (James 1:5) and that true wisdom comes from above (James 3:15). Have you ever had to make a decision beyond your own knowledge? Have you ever been in a challenging situation? Have the circumstances of your life been difficult to navigate? Our lives often present decisions, situations, or circumstances that require wisdom.

The heart of Proverbs

The Book of Proverbs is one of the greatest collections of timeless advice and true wisdom ever collected in one piece of literature. However, it can sometimes be difficult to extract the wisdom of Proverbs from the poetic way it is written.

Every Christian needs wisdom for life.

At the heart of Proverbs is one main theme: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7). The wisdom Proverbs speaks of starts with God, and one of the purposes of Proverbs is to teach people this wisdom that comes from God. Here are three things that Proverbs teaches us about wisdom:

1. Wisdom is relational

True wisdom cannot exist apart from relationship with God. Biblically, wisdom flows out of covenantal relationship with the one true God. A personal relationship with God then leads to wisdom being present and exemplified within one’s own life. Wisdom is attainable to all those who seek a relationship with God and ask him for wisdom (Prov. 2:6).

Wisdom is not simply about knowing more— it’s about who you know. This starts with recognizing the role of God in the world and in our own lives. God’s commands “thou shall not” earlier in the Old Testament are replaced by instructions from a teacher in Proverbs: “my son, do not.” It’s built on the relationship of God as Father instructing his children in wisdom.

2. Wisdom is practical

Wisdom in its truest form is applicable to life. The Hebrew word for “wisdom” does not refer purely to intellectual knowledge. Instead, wisdom is about possession of knowledge for the purpose of application. Practically relying on wisdom from the Lord leads us to the right course of action (Prov. 3:5–6).

Wisdom is attainable to all those who seek a relationship with God and ask him for wisdom

It’s not a lack of information, but a lack of wisdom that is prevalent in society today. As Christians we can often be concerned with what we don’t know, instead of putting into practice what we already know. The short sayings of Proverbs are meant to be practical in application.

3. Wisdom is humble

Wisdom from God truly models humility. A wise person is not perfect, but has a teachable nature that accepts the correction that is being given. By accepting rebuke and instruction, a wise person shows the absence of pride in their life. This teachable nature or acceptance of discipline is essential for the wise (Prov. 9:8–9).

Wisdom is not a posture of success, but a posture of continual growth. We must humble ourselves to pray to God for wisdom. Since wisdom does not originate in an individual, there is no reason to boast. In Proverbs, the fools are proud, while the wise are humble.

Wisdom is not simply about knowing more— it’s about who you know.

Wise as Jesus

Jesus was wise. He even claimed to be wiser than the wisest man of the Old Testament, Solomon (Luke 11:31). The Gospels portray Jesus as a man who not only claimed he was wise, but was viewed as a great teacher of wisdom by his hearers (Matt. 13:54). As Christians, we can and should ask for wisdom from our God who offers it.

Here’s the question: do you pray for wisdom?