The Principal Thing

“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. 4:5-7). There simply is nothing more valuable to the life and hope of a believer than acquiring divine understanding by God’s Spirit, and wisdom by the same. Without these attributes it is certain that one will go astray, even with good intentions; especially in the times that we are living in. All it takes to receive these heavenly benefits is an honest heart and a determination to seek God’s face diligently. Solomon, who was blessed with an abundance of God’s wisdom and understanding, made it clear that it takes much prayer and diligent, honest search to find the understanding that comes only from God (Prov. 2:3-6). Just receiving and having God’s Spirit is not an automatic obtaining of these things, but rather it is the access and opportunity to seek for them. The apostle Paul said it quite simplistically: “for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). Every believer who hopes to obtain eternal salvation at the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ back to this world, must be founded in these invaluable tools of the Spirit of God. And again the good news is that every believer has that access and opportunity, if they take advantage of it. The beloved apostle said it best, I do believe: “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (I Jn. 2:26-28).

The angel who spoke to Daniel about end time events plainly told him that the acquisition and preserving of divine wisdom and understanding would be the difference between those who would be saved in the end time, and those who would be lost: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever… Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand” (Dan. 12:3,10). This is exactly the same description of the end time that Jesus gave us in the parable of the ten virgins, of which virgins Jesus said, “five of them were wise, and five were foolish” (Mat. 25:2). Needless to say, those in that parable that were wise were saved, and those who were not wise were lost (Mat. 25:10-12). The fearful point of that parable is that all of the virgins had been born again and had followed Jesus to an extent, but those who lacked wisdom could not go the distance in true holiness. The apostle Paul told of the same end time scenario in 2 Thess. 2: 8-12, where he clarified that those who would be lost would believe in miracles, but they would NOT be able to believe and love the truth of God. So all that remains is the sobering admonition of the apostle Paul: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:15-17). And one more from the same apostle for good measure: “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour” (I Thess. 4:3,4). I don’t know about you, but to me these things are worthy of a whole lot of godly fear, and a whole lot of our attention. God bless.