Cling To Wisdom for Life - Proverbs 4:13

Our text today demonstrates the importance of wisdom. Dr. Solomon exhorts his children to cling on to wisdom. The idea is to seize it strongly, keep a firm grip as though your life depended on it, because it does. Wisdom is not good advice as though it is up to us to decide whether we accept it or not. Solomon is emphatic here - you cling to wisdom; and you keep on clinging to her. The wisdom that Solomon speaks of deals with the mind and will of God. Therefore, we should have a strong desire to cling to wisdom.

When we begin to grasp the intellectual concepts/precepts that wisdom teaches us, it must be mixed with faith with the intent to trust and apply it. First we grasp (we need to understand) wisdom. Secondly, we refuse to let her go (this means we apply it for life). This means we should never depart from her. In other words, we don't apply wisdom only when it is convenient. We always apply wisdom, because she is our life. Once again, wisdom is portrayed as one who gives life. When we think of life, we not only need to think of quantity (length), but also quality. In other words, wisdom teaches us how to live a life worth living. And a life that is worth living only comes through knowing God. Jesus prayed - And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3). Wisdom helps us know God by understanding what He desires for us as His creation. Wisdom teaches us what pleases God.