Wisdom Builds Faith

Proverbs 22:17-29

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;

18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,

19 So that your trust may be in the LORD;
I have instructed you today, even you.

20 Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may answer words of truth
To those who send to you?

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;

23 For the LORD will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a furious man do not go,

25 Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.

26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is surety for debts;

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 Do not remove the ancient landmark
Which your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before unknown men.

Why should we listen and read these words of wisdom from the scriptures?  Why do we listen attentively to hear to know and lean our hearts into the knowing?  It is definitely sweet and delightful to hold them in our hearts (Psalm 119:9-11) and speak of them along the way of life.  The most important reason then is to trust in God, to allow the knowledge and understanding taught us to build wisdom into our God-given faith.  These proverbs are especially excellent bits of wisdom built on God’s ways for us to skillfully apply to our hearts and minds.  They give not only knowledge of God’s heart and mind, but also His counsel to live accordingly.  He teaches us the absolute certainty of His word that we may tell others and bear witness to the truth of all the scriptures, from the creation to our fall from grace, to our need of redemption and the purchase of it by God Himself since we are unable to do so by our most determined effort.  This good news of the truth we bear is our answer of truth to those we are sent to (John 1:22, 1 John 1:2) and are sent to us along the way to eternity before His face at last.  Therefore wisdom teaches us to live well to others in righteousness and justice with mercy and grace as seasoning to our words and actions.  We do not steal or oppress others because we have the knowledge that God looks out for them to plead their cause as He does for us.  We also have no part with the angry and rebellious who defy authority (Jude 1:8, Romans 13:2) so we do not let evil company corrupt good habits given by God to us (1 Corinthians 15:33-34).  These things entrap us and pull us away from wise living.  We do not get involved in other people’s debts as if being accountable for them while we rob them of their own accountability.  Yes, we learn to keep the old ways set in place by God and not by man’s ways.  Let us work toward the goals of personal accountability and willing obedience to the scriptures we have learned since our conversion that we may stand complete in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12, 1 John 2:7), remembering that wisdom builds faith because its foundation is complete trust in God and His word.