By HEATHER COFER
Proverbs has been one of my favorite books of the Bible for years. I have gone through seasons of studying it in depth, reading through it once a month, and memorizing portions of it. I have been able to draw so much practical wisdom from it, which is probably one of the reasons I am so fond of it. I began to easily recognize the behavioral patterns and character traits of the wise man and the foolish man, and would often think of examples of others who were either wise or foolish. And, to be very honest, I am pretty sure I usually pictured myself in the position of the wise person.
Then one day as I was doing some studying and reading, I was stopped dead in my tracks. It suddenly struck me that I was the foolish person! Even though there were times I acted in wisdom, that was not my “default” so to speak. How many times had I read through Proverbs without realizing that so, so many of those depictions of a fool could be directly applied to scenarios in my own life? How many times had I come across verses and thought, I wish so-and-so would stumble across this verse, yet not test my own soul against that challenging truth? I was greatly humbled, convicted, and thankful that the Lord had revealed this blind spot in my walk with Him.
Proverbs 3:7 says, “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.” And Proverbs 9:10 says, “ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
In reality, God is the only one who is wise – He is wisdom itself! And everyone else who has ever lived is a fool apart from Him. Every one of us has failed in at least one, if not all, of the ways of wisdom. But God never has, and never will. And, if we turn to Him and acknowledge our need, we have this glorious hope: “Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (Prov. 2:3-5).
He is ready and waiting to impart to us the fullest riches of His infinite wisdom, if we will only turn to Him and seek Him with all that we are!