Where Wisdom Begins
“Start with God - the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.” (Proverbs 1:7 MSG)
I love Eugene Peterson’s rendering of this well-known verse in the opening words of Proverbs. Most of us are familiar with a version not unlike the NIV, which reads, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
This idea of the fear of the Lord can be confusing to many, but Peterson’s language cuts through that confusion and to the point - true knowledge and wisdom in this life come to those who “start with God.” In other words, they look first and foremost to their creator as they seek to understand the meaning and mysteries of life.
It doesn’t take too long to discover that life is not easy. There are choices, and challenges, surprises and setbacks, a whole host of things that can derail and detour us on our journey. That’s why Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs; to teach young adults (and us old folks too!) how to navigate the complex challenges they would inevitably face in life.
And before he provides any of that advice, he begins by pointing his listeners to the ultimate source of wisdom and the attitude needed to gain that wisdom - God as our highest priority.
True knowledge and wisdom come from God. It comes as we look first and foremost to him to teach us, lead us, and help us as we journey through this sometimes joyous, sometimes miserable, but always mysterious thing called life.
In Christ,
Dan
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