Proverbs 1:1-7

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7, NKJV)

Solomon was the wisest person who ever lived. But how did he get that way? When God told him to ask for whatever he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding. He sought it out. Then he wrote 3,000 proverbs. His purpose was to instruct in the practical and spiritual matters of life. Like a good father with his children, Solomon wanted to pass down the things he had learned to future generations.

I once read about Billy Graham that since there are 31 chapters of Proverbs, he would read one chapter each day of the month. What a great way to grow in knowledge and wisdom!

Knowledge is knowing truth; wisdom is the right application of truth. We need both knowledge and wisdom to be successful in life, and Solomon promises both in his book of Proverbs.

Seven verses into the book, Solomon presents his key theme: the fear of the LORD. This is the beginning of knowledge—not the kind of knowledge that you learned in school, but the knowledge of spiritual and moral truth. If we fear God, then we are afraid to disobey Him. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13). Our culture has become very tolerant of evil to the point that it does not call it out for what it is. But we must hate evil if we are to avoid doing it, and this is how we fear God.

Fools, however, despise wisdom, instruction and correction. If we spurn these things, then we are destined to choose our own way, which will always lead us away from God and shipwreck our faith.

As we begin the book of Proverbs, let us ask the Holy Spirit to increase our knowledge and wisdom and to help us practice what we learn.