Those Who Fear They Will Hear

Key Theme: Wisdom is a profound personal realization, a concept that occurs to you, rather

than simply a doctrine to be learned.

Core Concepts:

• "Wise Ways": This term refers to the paths of wisdom, much like highways that guide a journey. This study is a campaign to explore wisdom from God's word.

• Realization, not Doctrine: Unlike a story or a rigid set of rules, the wisdom in Proverbs is often something that must be personally realized. It is a concept that "occurs to you" an "Eureka" moment of deep understanding.

• A Concept and an Idea: Wisdom is presented as a concept or an idea upon which you must take a decision and act.

Purpose of Proverbs: Solomon wrote Proverbs to teach people wisdom and discipline, and to help them live disciplined and successful lives. Its purpose is to help people do what is right, just, and fair, leading to lives of integrity.

The Principle of Pursuit: The Glory of The Kings

Proverbs 25:2 reminds us, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” This is not a passive pursuit. The wise person understands that God has hidden gems of truth and insight all around us—not just in the church, but in the world He created. It is our honor and a sign of spiritual maturity to actively search for them.

Principle: God conceals wisdom, and we are called to search.

• Proverbs 2:4-5 says if you seek wisdom like hidden treasure, you will find the knowledge of God. This pursuit is a treasure hunt. We see this in Matthew 13:44, where the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a person joyfully sells all they have to acquire.

• The pursuit of wisdom is an act of faith. It requires us to believe there is more to learn, even when we feel we have all the answers.

The Principle of Practice: Expanding Your World

A wise person embodies three key characteristics that allow them to expand their world and find wisdom in unexpected places. These are not just spiritual disciplines, but life skills for effective living.

Principle: Your ears, your feet, and your mouth are tools for wisdom.

Phrase: “To be an ear and ask for grace, will put you on a wiser place.”

1. Listen: A wise person has an open ear. Proverbs 18:15 tells us, "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out." This means seeking to understand before seeking to be understood. We are called to be "quick to listen, slow to speak" (James 1:19), valuing all people as image-bearers of God and a potential source of wisdom. This includes listening to new ideas, other cultures, and even people we may disagree with.

2. Explore: The wise are explorers. They do not stay in a closed-off world or a comfortable echo chamber. They step out to meet new people and experience new cultures, for they know that God's wisdom is found in His entire creation. Acts 17:26-27 shows that God placed nations in specific places so that "they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him." We are a people made to seek and explore.

3. Ask Questions: As believers, we are called to be in the world but not of it. Part of our calling is to engage and to learn, and we can only do so by asking questions, not just making statements. We see Jesus himself at the age of twelve "listening to them and asking them questions" (Luke 2:46). When we ask questions, it shows a posture of humility and a genuine desire to understand, paving the way for a more authentic and impactful witness.

The Principle of Purpose: Wisdom and Disagreement

God's wisdom is found everywhere, and you will not always agree with what you hear. It is in

this place of disagreement that our character is truly tested.

Principle: The mark of wisdom is not avoiding disagreement, but listening through it.

Phrase: “To be a friend and not an foe, is how your wisdom starts to grow.”

Deeper Dive:

• Proverbs 10:19 reminds us that "in the multitude of words sin is not lacking," and

sometimes the wisest thing we can do is simply listen. Even when listening to a new

perspective that challenges our own, we must remember that love "believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).

• The path of wisdom is the path of grace. It is easy to love those who think like us, but it

takes divine wisdom and grace to love and listen to those who do not.

Reflection Questions for Application

• What is one area of your life where you've been closed off to new ideas or people?

• How can you intentionally practice being a better listener this week, especially with those you don't agree with?

• In what ways can you become an "explorer" in your daily life—perhaps by reading a book from a different culture, starting a conversation with a new coworker, or trying something new?

• How does listening to different perspectives, even if you disagree, ultimately help you to

grow in your faith and strengthen your witness for God?