Ep.141 The Principal Thing (Proverbs 4:5-9)

Why aren't more Christians wise when God has plainly promised to give wisdom to those who ask? James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” It is one of the clearest promises in Scripture—and yet we often walk right past it on our way to ask God for something smaller. In Sermon Eleven of the “Wisdom’s Path” series, Pastor Keith Seiber turns to Proverbs 4:5–9 and asks a foundational question: Why wisdom? Why should we seek it, ask God for it, and make obtaining wisdom one of the great priorities of our lives? Solomon's answer could hardly be stronger: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.” — Proverbs 4:7 The message follows the three letters in WHY: W — Wisdom Is Worth It. H — Hurry to Get It. Y — Yours: Put Your Name Next to Wisdom. Solomon knew what wealth could buy. He possessed riches, honor, influence, and opportunities beyond what most people could imagine. Yet the man who had virtually everything still declared that wisdom was “more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” In this episode, you'll discover: Why wisdom is called “the principal thing” What Solomon means when he repeatedly commands us to “get wisdom” Why biblical wisdom is worth whatever effort it takes to pursue How wisdom preserves, guards, promotes, and brings honor Why Proverbs gives general principles for life rather than unconditional guarantees How wisdom can simultaneously be something God gives and something we are commanded to get Why Bible study, prayer, wise counsel, and Christian fellowship matter in the pursuit of wisdom Why the most expensive things people pursue may be worth far less than twenty minutes spent seeking God's wisdom Why young people especially should seek wisdom now What Solomon means by “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” Why Scripture continually warns us against assuming we have tomorrow How biblical happiness is connected with walking in the right direction Why Solomon says wisdom is worth more than silver, gold, rubies, or anything else we could desire How Jesus Christ ultimately brings the entire pursuit of wisdom together Why soul winning is one of the wisest things a Christian can give his life to Why “Get wisdom” ultimately points us toward Christ The Bible presents a remarkable tension. Proverbs 4 says, “Get wisdom,” while Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the LORD giveth wisdom.” So which is it? Do we get wisdom—or does God give it? Yes. The command is real, and the gift is real. We cannot manufacture heavenly wisdom, but we can position ourselves where God has promised to give it. We seek Him in His Word. We ask Him in prayer. We listen to godly counsel. We faithfully gather with God's people. We pursue wisdom because God has promised to supply what we lack. But there is also an urgency to wisdom. Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” The important word is now. Life is a vapor. You cannot recover a wasted decade, and nobody has been promised tomorrow. The time to seek God, respond to His Word, repent of sin, and begin walking wisely is not someday. It is now. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” — 2 Corinthians 6:2 Get wisdom. Get it now. And ultimately, biblical wisdom is not merely a collection of principles. Wisdom leads us to a Person. 1 Corinthians 1:30 declares that Jesus Christ “of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” You lack wisdom—He is made unto you wisdom. You have no righteousness—He is made unto you righteousness. You cannot cleanse yourself—He is made unto you sanctification. You cannot redeem yourself—He is made unto you redemption. Everything sinners desperately need, God has provided in Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:3 says that in Christ “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” There is no true wisdom anywhere in this universe independent of Him. So when Scripture says “Get wisdom,” it is not merely telling you to become a smarter or better version of yourself. It is pointing you to Christ. Go to Him. Seek Him. Trust Him. And then begin walking with Him—Abide. Renew. Grow. The message closes with the powerful story of Adoniram Judson, whose youthful rejection of Christianity was shaken after spending a sleepless night listening to a dying man through the wall of an inn—only to discover the next morning that the dead man was his unbelieving college friend, Jacob Eames. Judson eventually came to Christ and gave his life to taking the Gospel to Burma. His story confronts every one of us with the same question: Are you ready? Don't answer later. Tomorrow has never been guaranteed. “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” — Proverbs 27:1 The road is still open. Course correction is still available. Get wisdom. Get it now. Get it from Him. Get Christ. If you're interested in biblical wisdom, Proverbs 4 explained, how to get wisdom from God, James 1:5, Christian decision-making, wisdom for young people, Solomon and wisdom, Jesus Christ as wisdom, Christian living, soul winning, salvation, or KJV Bible preaching, this episode provides a practical and Gospel-centered examination of why wisdom truly is “the principal thing.” Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, leave a rating and written review, and share this episode with someone who needs biblical wisdom for the road ahead. Scripture: Proverbs 4:5–9 (KJV) Series: Wisdom’s Path — Sermon Eleven Message: The Principal Thing: The Why of Wisdom Speaker: Pastor Keith Seiber Church: New Beginning Baptist Fellowship