Proverbs 2: How Wisdom Helps Grow Your Character

A lot of the book of Proverbs is about proper thinking and the ways of wisdom. Proverbs 2 is a pillar in that conversation.

A lot of people today think they’re wise, but in reality, they’re reverting to old customs and beliefs. Western culture was formed from a strong belief in Jesus, and the rules and ethics God gave us.

In ancient times those came from the 10 commandments and the laws of Moses. Later in more modern times, we have what Jesus taught us, and that spread throughout the world.

Take an overview of the Greek and Roman cultures prior to Christianity, their beliefs are very similar to today’s beliefs.

Today people live for themselves, they live for pleasure, and if we’re honest with ourselves, science has replaced faith in God.

We long to learn how things work, but science can NEVER answer the question of why?

How often do we strive for knowledge, but we’re missing the point?

What if the reason for everything created was because God wanted to make us? Then we rebelled against him and now walk our own path. Afterward, God sends his son Jesus to die for us.

And yet many of us mock and ridicule him, we become fools in our ignorance, studying the very creation he made, making theories for why things happened, but now realizing he’s the why…

Wisdom benefits everyone because wisdom is the proper application of knowledge.

In Proverbs 2, we have a mother or father (not really sure which) and they are telling their son some basic standards to live their life with.

Wisdom comes with critical thinking. I just got off the phone with my Sister, and part of our conversation was about making the right choices in life.

I know of many people currently making the wrong ones, and that drives me insane. Because sometimes I want to join in.

Making the right choices usually don’t have instant benefits, most of the time in my life they’ve been delayed. But making the wrong choices, you’ll feel that pretty quickly.

Proverbs 2: Moral Benefits of Wisdom

2 My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,

⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
⁸ for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.

¹² Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
¹³ who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,
¹⁴ who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
¹⁵ whose paths are crooked
    and who are devious in their ways.

¹⁶ Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
¹⁷ who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.

¹⁸ Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
¹⁹ None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.

²⁰ Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
²¹ For the upright will live in the land,
    and the blameless will remain in it;
²² but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
    and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Proverbs 2:1-22

Proverbs 2:1-22 How Wisdom Is Lacking In Our Culture

I feel bad saying this, but in the last 6-7 years I’ve watched an expedited shift towards immorality. While things have been headed that way for quite some time, things have definitely been expedited, and Proverbs 2 shows us the way we lack wisdom.

We need the wisdom to make the right decisions, not just for us but for future generations.

For example one of the reasons (of many) murder is such an evil act, is because it not only kills the person but any future children that person may have. A bullet that kills one young man, kills countless others by not allowing them to live.

What if one of those people could cure cancer? Or create a new technology that transforms the world.

Proverbs 2 shows us what to avoid, and we can choose to avoid or embrace it. Every action we commit has an effect on the future, and while it may be a tiny action, many of those actions together will make a huge change.

Wisdom helps us move towards a better future, it’s time to ask God for some because we’re all lacking a lot of it.

What are you going to choose today? Don’t go along with the crowds that get spoonfed lies, instead, I want you to understand that Jesus is the way, and he’ll lead you into all truth.

Proverbs 2 is a powerful chapter, I hope you enjoyed my latest post.