Here we see another step one must take to gain wisdom. You must give your ear attentively to wisdom and incline your heart to understanding. The wise person wants their thoughts and actions recalibrated in accordance to God's Word. The fool has no desire to submit to infinite wisdom. The fool may change their outward behavior momentarily until an end is met. Children do this for example, but this is not wisdom. They may have heard your instruction, but they have not bent their heart to understand.
Notice the two ways you gain wisdom - with the ear and the heart.
Understand, we cannot have wisdom in the heart if it first doesn't come through the ear (faith comes by hearing). But if it only goes as far as the ear, then we will not receive wisdom. We must apply our hearts to understanding. This means - we do not simply fall into wisdom. This means we give ourselves to the pursuit of wisdom and have a commitment to understand. Wisdom is for those who allow the instruction to sink in.
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