Proverbs 2 v 1 - 4 - How to get Wisdom

So, to start today the first instruction is to listen. Wisdom requires listening to someone else. Acting like you are already wise, you aren't exactly humbling yourself, you're not going to learn. As sort of human nature, we hate to be wrong, we hate to be corrected. But as followers of JC, we need to humble, we need to accept our sinfulness and accept criticism and listen to those who can help us. Here, Soloman, or someone else says "my child". Using the same analogy, it's the father who has experience telling the child what to do, not in a bossy way but because they know better.  It's often when teenagers reject what their parents say that get's them into mess.


The second instruction in v1 is to remember like we've all said at some point, there's no point in doing QTs like this, and not remembering, and therefore not applying it to our lives. It would be worse to be taught something and forget it, than to not know it at all. 
Hebrews 2:1 So we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. Then we will not stray away from the truth


The third instruction, within v2 is to set your mind on understanding. Interesting, some versions say heart, some say mind. Okay so you have to be in mindset with wisdom. Unless you aren't ready to listen to something, you won't learn it. Again, many people hate hearing the truth, no one wants to hear that what they are doing is wrong, people unless we have the mindset for wanting to gain wisdom, and wanting to understand it, we're not going to get it. 
2 Timothy 4:3 because the time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching but will find many more teachers who please them by saying the things they want to hear.


The fourth instruction, in v3 says to cry out for wisdom. God answers prayer when we ask him. It's so easy to ask God for things, and I know I don't as often as I should do. But, is the reason you have little wisdom, because you simply haven't asked for it? Ask with faith in God, in the right mindset of aquiring wisdom. There's many examples of this within the bible, and God does the same now as he did then
James 1:5 But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you.


The fifth instruction in v4 i to search for wisdom. Silver, in the times of Jesus was probably a very big thing, people wanted it. Think of the thing that is most valuable to you, or even a person that's very valuable to you. With the person, you want to talk to them, get to know them, meet up, chat, grow your relationship, constantly working at that relationship. Similar with wisdom, we need diligence and to work at getting wisdom, just as hard as working towards a relationship or seeking something like silver. You need to give up other things in your life to gain wisdom, and you can't let yourself be distracted by other things in world whilst trying to get this wisdom. This has to be active faith, not being lazy and passive!
Jeremiah 29:13 You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me!


Just a mini recap then;


Listen, remember, set your mind on wisdom, cry out and search for wisdom.