GET WISDOM–
GET UNDERSTANDING!
Several months, or maybe several years ago, we wrote that God’s Holy
Spirit is not for sale. When reading about the ten virgins in Matthew 25, they
were told to go buy oil for their lamps. Over the years in God’s church we
were told that the Holy Spirit was represented by oil. But that cannot be true
if we read in God’s word where the Holy Spirit cannot be purchased with
money. “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy
Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power,
that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said
unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift
of God may be purchased with money” (Acts 8:17-20).
Just what was the ten virgins to buy. The scriptures tell us: “Buy the
truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding” (Prov
23:23).
The book of Proverbs tell us a lot about wisdom and understanding. At
least 28 times the scriptures tell us about wisdom and understanding. Beginning in Proverbs 1, we are told: “The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov 1:7). “To
know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom,
justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels”
(Prov. 1:2-5).
Solomon, the wisest man of that time has given us teaching of Proverbs to help us grow in wisdom,
knowledge and understanding. “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to
understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her
as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find
the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly” (Prov 2:2-7).
The way of right living is to follow the instructions of the Proverbs. “Then shalt thou understand
righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and
knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee” (Prov 2:9-11).
When we follow the teachings of God, our Father, we find the way to live not die. “He taught me also,
and said unto me, Let thine heart retain My words: keep My commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get
understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of My mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve
thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy
getting get understanding” (Prov 4:4-7). “My son, attend unto My wisdom, and bow thine ear to My
understanding: (Prov 5:1).
As a loving Father, God gives us the principals to live by. “My son, keep my words, and lay up My
commandments with thee. Keep My commandments, and live; and My law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them
upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call
understanding thy kinswoman” (Prov 7:1-4)
“Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” (Prov 8:1). “Hear; for I will speak of
excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness
is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or
perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive
my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and
all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it” (Prov 8:6-11).
In this day and age where silver and gold are being advertised constantly, we need to remember what is
said in God’s word. “Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's
wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance
of all them that dwell in the land” (Zeph 1:18). The Apostle James tells us, “Your riches are corrupted, and your
garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you,
and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days” (James 5:2-3). And
in Revelation 3, we find if we are lukewarm we will be tried in the fire. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor,
and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white
raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes
with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Rev 3:17-18).
Once again Proverbs tells us, “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? O ye simple,
understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart” (Prov 8:1,5). If we are to live by every word
of God, we cannot afford to be simple minded. We need to keep God’s word in our hearts and minds. “Give
instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear
of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Prov 9:9-10). “In
the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of
understanding. It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom” (Prov 10:13,23).
Wisdom, knowledge and understanding only comes by following the instructions of the word of God.
“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish” (Prov 12:1). “A wise son
heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke” (Prov 13:1).
Today, the word of God is scorned. Little do people realize that this ends in deceit and death! “A scorner
seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. The wisdom of the
prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit” (Prov 14:6,8). The liberal news media thinks
that believing Christian are simple minded and stupid. But God’s word tells a different story. “The simple
believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. A wise man feareth, and departeth from
evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident” (Prov 14:15-16).
To the called out brethren God says, “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the
wicked poureth out evil things. The LORD is far from the wicked: but He heareth the prayer of the righteous.The
light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. The ear that heareth the reproof of
life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof
getteth understanding. The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility” (Prov
15:28-33).
Once again God’s word tells us, “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding
rather to be chosen than silver!” (Prov 16:16). “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the
LORD trieth the hearts” (Prov 17:3).
Unless we are studying into God’s Word every day, we cannot find the way to eternal life. “The heart of
the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge” (Prov 18:15). “He that getteth
wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good” (Prov 19:8).
Our daily life should show the world around us that we are trying to live a godly life and to be an example
to our neighbors. “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by
knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a man
of knowledge increaseth strength” (Prov 24:3-5). “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and
loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Prov 22:1). Once again! Get wisdom! Get understanding!