Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding. The desire of knowledge is common to all human kind. All knowledge is worth the having, but far more desirable, and infinitely above all, is the knowledge of spiritual things. To this is given the name Wisdom. I. IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET WISDOM. We are living in an age of weak convictions, of guesses as distinguished from beliefs, of opinions rather than established views. The most popular phase of thought in these times is known as Agnosticism. The original agnostic was Pyrrho of Ells. He was the universal sceptic, whose philosophy was merely an interrogation point. But it is possible to know respecting spiritual things. We have the faculty wherewith to apprehend them. This faculty or spiritual sense is the link binding us to God. We have it as a Divine inheritance; it belongs to us by reason of our Divine birth. We are environed by spiritual facts. I do not say that we can exhaust all or any spiritual truth. II. IT IS OUR MAGNIFICENT PRIVILEGE AND PREROGATIVE TO INFORM OURSELVES CONCERNING SPIRITUAL THINGS. We are Divine and immortal. In reaching out for spiritual truth we give distinct evidence of our descent from God. The lowest attitude which men can assume towards truth is that of credulity. A step higher and we reach the doubters. Doubt is nobler than credulity. A sceptic is a better man than an unthinking bigot. But the sceptic is not a learned man, for true learning implies conviction. He is a half-educated man, and a little learning is ever a dangerous thing. Doubt is always something to move away from. There are two kinds of doubt as there are two twilights. The higher thing is belief. Faith is substance resting on evidence; the substance of spiritual things resting on evidence which appeals to the moral sense. The character of any man is measured by his creed. III. IT IS OUR BOUNDEN DUTY, THEREFORE, TO HAVE SOUND CONVICTIONS AS TO SPIRITUAL TRUTH. We have no right to allow the great problems to go by default. If there is a God it behoves us to know it. How shall we get wisdom? (James 1:5). God is light; open the windows, and let God shine in. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Bow down at the mercy-seat and ask God to illuminate the dark chambers of your soul. Get wisdom from God. (D. J. Burrell, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.WEB: Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding. |
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