Salvation is a free gift. God offers everlasting life to anyone who will believe. However, that free gift is not an unconditional gift. If a person were to offer a blasphemous prayer, challenging God to prove Scripture true and save him, his demand would go unmet. The condition of salvation is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Wisdom also has conditions. We learn from Proverbs 2:6 says that “the LORD giveth wisdom.” Only God can give it. However, we have a responsibility if we want to be wise. We must meet God’s conditions. As you read through Proverbs 2:1-4, you might circle the three “if” statements in verses 1-4. “If” is a conditional word. If you want to receive wisdom, God says you must meet these conditions. Several conditions are listed in the early part of this chapter, but verse 3 highlights one of the most fundamental.
First, we must voice our request. If you want wisdom, you’ve got to voice your need for it. Proverbs 2:3 says, “If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding,” then God will give it. Anyone seeking wisdom should cry after knowledge. Crying out requires the voice; Solomon is saying do it audibly. Ask out loud. Cry out to God with this kind of prayer: “God I need your wisdom!” Later in Scripture, James 1:5 says that “if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” God’s repeated promise is that if you’ll voice it to Him, you will receive it.
Second, we must value wisdom. Notice another “if” condition in verse 4: “if thou seekest her.” Solomon compares wisdom to items of tangible value, “silver” and “treasures.” The text is saying that if we want wisdom we must value it. Praying persistently, and crying out for wisdom as verse 3 says, is one way we demonstrate we value wisdom. Another way, according to verse 4, is that, when you voice your request to God and He answers it, you must value that wisdom like you would silver and treasures. Value God’s wisdom, and do not take it for granted. Value wisdom when you hear others communicating it and value it when He gives it to you through them.
Third, consider victory of obtaining wisdom. We see this idea in verses 5-11. If you voice it and get it, and you value it, “then,” verse 5 says, you’ll enjoy the victory that wisdom provides. “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” It is proper to speak in victory terms because of the word picture God uses in verse 7. The Lord promises to be your buckler—a kind of shield. He also promises to preserve your way. Wisdom provides victory over spiritual enemies, as well as victory in walking a consistent and faithful life.
Fourth, notice the villains in verses 12-22. The victory of wisdom that God provides is not without enemies. Solomon says that wisdom will deliver us from two kinds of villainous enemies: the “evil man” described in verses 12-15 and from the “strange woman” in verse 16-19. Both the “evil man” and the “strange woman” are villains trying to get you to walk in the “ways of darkness,” as verse 13 says. Those who refuse to walk wisdom’s path, choosing the villain’s path instead, will ultimately be led to death. Verse 18 says that the strange woman’s house “inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.” However, God’s wisdom protects us from these evil villains.
These are wisdom’s conditions. The way of wisdom is not automatic, and it is not without opposition. However, God promises these things: “if” you voice your desire for wisdom to God, and “if” you value it when God gives it to you, then you’ll enjoy victory over the evil villains of this life. If we are willing to meet the conditions God has established, He will always keep His promise. Those who seek wisdom will find it.
The above article was written by James C. Johnson. He is the pastor of NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.
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