Proverbs 4
Proverbs 4- Hold Fast To Wisdom
I recently read a story of a family dog that became obsessed with scratching at the bottom of his owner’s refrigerator. They said he would stare and scratch at it day after day. At first, his owners thought it was just food or a toy stuck under the fridge. But after a week of scratching, they finally moved the refrigerator to see what it was. When they fully moved it, the source of the dog’s obsession was revealed and in the back corner was a tightly curled up snake. After the shock wore off and the snake was removed, they tried to figure out how it got there. It could have been when they brought in groceries or when the door was left open to get the mail. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. What matters is the snake was given an opportunity to come in and he took it. All it took was a crack, and it’s the same for sin in our life. It takes only a crack in the door of our heart for sin to come in and loosen our grip on the wisdom Solomon teaches about in Proverbs 4. By taking just one step off the path of wisdom, we allow sin to seep in and then we must fight to gain back the ground we lost.
Solomon tells us the importance of holding fast to wisdom. He writes as if he is speaking to his own son, imparting a life-giving lesson, speaking on bended knee, looking eye to eye with him. He tells us to “get wisdom and gain insight.” Solomon’s words seem simple in this verse, but the cost of wisdom is anything but easy. As we continue to read through the chapter, we begin to see just how life-giving this heart-to-heart conversation is. We are warned against the ways of the wicked, to keep our eyes straight. We are told to guard our hearts for from them the springs of life will overflow. We are urged to hold fast to wisdom because the world works tirelessly to loosen our grip on it.
At the end of Proverbs 4, Solomon tells us to “keep our heart with all vigilance.” He tells us to “put away crooked speech, to keep devious talk far from us, and to ponder the path of our feet, keeping our path sure.” Sisters in Christ, gaining wisdom comes at a high cost. Individually, we all have sin that we deal with. But as women, there are sins we all tend to let into our hearts. I know for myself I have been caught up in gossip, comparison, and anxiety or lack of trust in God. There were times when I’ve tried to gain control of everything around me instead of trusting God. All of these sins were let in by just barely opening the door. Instead of keeping my eyes straight on the path of wisdom, I let myself get distracted by the world around me. My grip on wisdom became loose and my feet veered off the path God set for me. As Christians, we are called to live differently; we are called to live our life according to the wisdom that God has taught us through His son, Jesus Christ. Just as King David walked the path before his son, Solomon, King Jesus walked the path of wisdom before us. Let’s shut the door to sin, hold fast to wisdom, and walk forward with our eyes set on the One who walked the way before us.
Key Verses:
Proverbs 4:5
Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Proverbs 4:13-15
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
Proverbs 4:20-27
My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
Reflection:
-Think about the cracks in your heart. Where are you allowing sin to creep in, even if it seems small?
-What needs to change in your life to keep your eyes straight on the path of wisdom?
-What are you prioritizing over the pursuit of God’s wisdom? Are you making space each day to seek Him above all else?
Closing Prayer:
Father, thank you for Your truth and wisdom. Teach me to guard my heart with intention, to walk in light, and to seek You above all else. Father, help me to see clearly the changes I need to make to keep my eyes on the path to wisdom. Give me the discernment I need in every season of life. Let my life reflect Your love, peace, and purpose.
Thank you for your love and grace,
Amen