Gaining God's Wisdom

“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.” (Proverbs 4:5, 6).
Around the ages of twelve or thirteen, most boys received “the talk”– the dreaded birds and bees discussion. My step-mother actually gave the talk to me and she didn’t do too badly; however, I can only recall one thing she said: “Don’t forget what I told you, because it will keep you from getting hurt and out of a whole lot of trouble.” The Lord gives us similar instructions with today’s proverb. In essence, He is saying, “Don’t forget this. It’s important. If you do what I say, it will protect you.” One of the reasons I love Proverbs so much is because it is full of these Father-son talks of wisdom, guidance, and instruction. God commands us to not decline from the words of His mouth. To decline means “to turn away or to put aside.” In other words, don’t neglect the advice He has given us. When He says to forsake her not, it means we are not to relinquish the wisdom and understanding He has given us. When we relinquish something, we give away what is rightfully ours. As men of God, we are entitled to the wisdom and understanding of God. They are gifts that He longs to bestow on His sons, if only we would ask. “Ask and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8).