True wisdom is the shaping of the mind according to God’s truth. Wisdom is more than facts and head knowledge. It is not merely abstract. To be wise is to have the right wisdom applied to life. In reality, the “wisdom” one holds will inevitably spill into how one lives.

If you asked people on the street the simple question, “Do you want more wisdom?” it’s safe to assume that most, if not all, would answer yes. No one would wish to be more foolish. The problem is that wisdom doesn’t just magically appear in us. Wisdom takes work. It takes searching, persistence, and devotion. But, if it’s valuable to us, we will find it.

What is more valuable?

If you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:3-6) 

The book of Proverbs says repeatedly that we must seek wisdom. Solomon tells us that we have to seek it like we seek wealth. We won’t “luck” into having wisdom. The pursuit can’t be casual. We must purposefully pursue it if we ever wish to find it.

Honestly, the biggest reason we aren’t characterized by wisdom is that we don’t value it enough to pursue it. In order to change that, we must recognize that God’s success is more valuable than earthly success. We need the riches we have in Christ to uproot the counterfeit riches of the world. We must see that God’s wisdom is wiser than all others. Until this changes, we will pursue a million things beside godly wisdom.

Our lives are often characterized by the pursuit of that which the world pursues: reputation, success, money, influence.

Of course, we wouldn’t admit to pursuing those things, but the reality is seen in the patterns of our lives. What do we have more of? Wealth or wisdom? Gold or godliness? Sanctification or silver? Reputation or obedience? Fear of man of fear of the Lord?

Who’s wisdom do you have?

If we aren’t growing in God’s wisdom we are left with no wisdom other than the world’s by which to be shaped. We will think like the world and live for the things of the world. We will be as unfulfilled, unhappy, and unsatisfied as the world.

We need a truer, better wisdom. And we will find it in no place other than in the one, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). We find wisdom by following Christ. We grow in wisdom by growing in knowledge and relationship with He who holds all knowledge.

Following any other wisdom is no wisdom at all. Only from God’s mouth do “wisdom and understanding come” (Prov. 2:6). If you want wisdom, whose mouth is your ear tuned toward?

Where do we find wisdom?

Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the “fear [honor and love] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” God himself is the true fountain from which we find all wisdom.

Wisdom is found in the one who made and knows all things, and the one who knows all things has revealed himself to us realibly and truthfully in his word.

If you want wisdom, godliness, or growth, you must go to God’s word. You must search through the pages of Scripture as though you are searching for gold and silver. You must raise your voice to God in prayer as you study that he would grow this wisdom in you. We then live this wisdom out in the joyful and abundant life Christ gives.

It all begins with one question: do we actually want wisdom? If yes, search for it where it can be found, and you will find it in abundance.