“Let the wise hear and increase in learning.” Proverbs 1:5
The opening paragraph of Proverbs states the purposes of the book. Those purposes address both a beginner (“the simple . . . the youth”) and a veteran (“the wise”). To quote Bridges, Proverbs, page 2: “A truly wise man is one, not who has attained, but who knows that he has not attained and is pressing onward to perfection.” He cites Paul: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (Philippians 3:12).
Principle: The further we advance in Christ, the more we marvel at his untapped riches.
Corollary: The more we feel people need our opinions, the more obvious it is they don’t.
Another corollary: The more we feel we have to learn, the more we might have to offer.
So, how to become a sage? “Let the wise hear . . . .”
