The Second Result of Listening

When we listen to wisdom, we’ll keep becoming wiser.  What does it look like for us to walk this path?  Here are some ideas:

• Ask God for wisdom every day.  No, scratch that; make it every hour.
• In every situation, ask yourself, “What can I learn here?”
• Learn how to study the Bible.  (Here’s some help.  And more help.)  Meet regularly with others to discuss it.
• Ask other people how they think you could grow.
• Read a chapter of Proverbs every day.  That way, you’ll cover the whole book each month.  I did this for years and developed a notebook of topics.  I picked one topic each month, and every day I’d write down which verses addressed that topic.  This notebook became a useful resource that I still use.

If wisdom has entered your heart, and the fear of the Lord characterizes you, then you will love instruction.  In particular, you will love God’s instruction, which means you’ll draw steadily closer to him.  Don’t let your life slip by without careful attention.

By the time he turned 21, American theologian Jonathan Edwards had written 70 personal commitments (he called them “resolutions”) for his walk with Christ.  They included things like speaking words that build up, managing his time well, and being a trustworthy person.  Most noteworthy is his commitment to consciously trust in Jesus, especially when he felt on top of the world.  Item #53 states:

“Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer.”

At the top, right before the first item on the list, he wrote this statement: “Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.”  Here was a man who understood his natural tendency to drift from the path of wisdom and who set himself to give careful attention that he might not do so.

To summarize where we are in the argument of Prov 2:1-10: If you persevere at listening carefully to wisdom, you will grow to love wisdom.  Your proud, selfish heart will melt, liberating you to make different choices every day.  You’ll be heading in the right direction, growing closer to Jesus and becoming more like him.