The book of Proverbs tells us of people who tried to apply God’s word to their lives and preserves their experiences for generations to come. Back in Proverbs 1:2-7 we read that this book was written as a source for readers to gain wisdom and discover the fear of God as beginning of all knowledge. The Hebrew word for wisdom used in this context can be translated to skill or applied knowledge. In Proverbs 30 we are introduced to Agur, a person with no further biblical background story but a desire for gaining wisdom. Through him we get to know a model reader of biblical wisdom literature. First of all, he acknowledges his own ignorance and great need of God’s insight. He admits to himself and the people around him, that he is weary, a brute and has no human understanding or knowledge of the Holy One (v. 1-3). He is vulnerable about his lack of wisdom, then shares his conclusions of observing nature and human interactions around him. I find that inspiring because admitting your own ignorance, especially in front of others, is not always easy. Being open about personal struggles and reaching out for other people's advice who were in a similar situation once isn’t either. By seeking wisdom in scripture, Agur realised that it is a well of accumulated insight of past generations of God’s people and gives us the chance learn from their experiences. Living with God is not always easy and we certainly are not perfect. But sometimes we already know what God wants us to do while we struggle to implement it into our everyday lives. Sometimes we are not sure what it is exactly that God is telling us to do and sometimes we are just a little too comfortable to change our usual ways to follow what He is saying.

I want to encourage you today to purposefully seek God’s wisdom. The realisation of where we set practical limits of implementing God’s word into our personal lives is an essential step to overcome our ignorance. Where do you want to apply God’s word more consistently to your life? Stop for a moment, reflect, reach out for God’s wisdom and ask Him what He thinks.

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Lord, thank you that you don’t leave us alone with a book full of rules but that you place us in communities to learn from each other’s experiences. Thank you for the wisdom that we can find in the bible. Please speak to me now about where I have been ignorant in the past and help me to change my ways. Please show me who could be a mentor of faith in my life. Amen.