Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks.’

Wisdom is placed in the highest regard in the Bible, so much so that there’s a whole book dedicated to this theme. I think we can all agree that wisdom is something worth pursuing… but how do we get it, and why is it not more prevalent in our wider culture?

Proverbs opens with some clues as to how to get on the path to wisdom and hints at why it might not be a popular route to travel on. Verse 15-16 says: ‘My son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.’ Solomon sets up a contrast here, between the prevailing way of the world, and the way of God’s wisdom. The way of the world is to move fast, ‘run’, and ‘make haste’. This suggests the invitation to the way of wisdom is an invitation to slow down. To move slowly, instead of moving fast, to walk instead of run, to make measured steps instead of making haste.

If we want to prepare ourselves for a life of wisdom this is a good place to start. It’s only in slowing down that we are able to listen to God’s wisdom, and in doing so discover what it means to ‘dwell secure’ in this exhausting, hurry-filled world.

***

Questions:

What’s one thing you can do this week to help slow down to hear God’s voice of wisdom?

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the invitation to slow down to receive your wisdom. Pull me out of a life of hurry and into your life-giving way of wise living. Amen