During one of his Sunday morning sermons, our pastor spoke from Proverbs 4:1-7 about the importance and benefits of having wisdom.  His message brought to mind a message I preached in a high school chapel service a number of years back on how to get wisdom. I have also shared these thoughts in teachers' meetings from time to time. 

We can all admit that wisdom is an important thing to have. And many have set out to become well-educated thinking that an education would bring with it wisdom. While education is important, it does not, in and of itself, give us wisdom. But a study of the Word of God will reveal to us some steps we can take to help bring us the wisdom we long for.

The first step is the single most important one. James 1:5 tells us plainly to ask God for it. God gladly gave it when Solomon asked.  In fact, God gave him the needed wisdom and more! “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.” Notice that when we ask God, He gives it liberally and does not upbraid us for asking. God wants all His children to be wise.

Another way to get wisdom is found in Proverbs 13:20: “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” The simple truth:  we become like those we hang around. If we make friends with those who have wisdom, we will learn to be wise. But if we hang out with foolish friends we will become a fool like them. It’s that old adage--“Birds of a feather flock together.” So, walk with wise men, not fools.

A third way to become wise is through the Fear of the Lord: Proverbs 15:33 says, “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” The Hebrew word for "fear" in this passage is yir’ah which denotes a reverential fear much like a child has for a parent: a fear of disappointing, not dread; a fear born out of love and respect. This kind of fear brings us in line with Heavenly instruction and brings us wisdom.