“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.” Proverbs 1:28-29
Wisdom is a word we hear a lot in our lives, but not many of us are aware of biblical wisdom. Worldly wisdom is different from biblical wisdom as it comes from the world rather than the Bible. Worldly wisdom is focused on self-gain and self-fulfillment rather than the things of God. If we are going to truly follow God, we will have to abandon worldly wisdom and follow after true biblical wisdom.
When I was growing up, I was taught in accordance with the world rather than God. This wasn’t due to shortcomings of my parents, but rather, it was just simply the way I was raised. I was raised in public school and later shifted to homeschool. My mom was a Christian and subtle teachings of Christ would show up in her life; however, I never truly understood who Jesus was. I knew He was to be respected, but I never knew He was God.
I remember being a ten-year-old and thinking the most important thing was to find a good career path and to get started early. While I was nowhere old enough to start working, I understood the importance of a good career path. Now, there is nothing wrong with wanting to have a good career and loving your job, but my main focus was on ensuring I could make enough money. This was a common concern for my family, and it was something I wanted to ensure was left in the past.
The wisdom I obtained as a child taught me that I needed to ensure proper employment, which would ensure proper wealth. As I’ve gotten older and come to know the Lord, I still recognize the importance of a well-paying job, but what is more important is serving God. Even if this means that we won’t make as much as a corporate CEO, it is more beneficial to serve the Lord in our humble states.
It might not be as glamorous, but it will mean we are doing life-fulfilling work for the Lord. Despite my ten-year-old self’s best attempts at ensuring material gain and wealth, I have opted for a life of following Jesus even though it brings many hardships. All of these hardships are nothing compared to what the Lord endured for us, and for this reason, I can keep pushing forward.
The wisdom the Lord has given me through His Word has ensured that I don’t see things in the same way as I did before. I don’t focus so much on financial means. Just as long as I have enough for basic necessities, it is not a driving force of my life. Rather, living for Jesus, serving Him, and helping others to be discipled in Him are what truly give my soul contentment.
The Bible tells us, “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord” (Proverbs 1:28-29). Within the Book of Proverbs, we meet wisdom. While many people have tried to say wisdom is a literal person as it is referred to as a she, it is best to see wisdom as a personification. Wisdom is not actually a person, but rather a literary device.
Wisdom is supposed to state the passage of Proverbs 1:28-29, and it encourages us to think over true, biblical wisdom. Are we following God’s teachings or the teachings of the world? Individuals will seek wisdom, but they will not find wisdom because they did not think it was worthwhile to attain knowledge or the fear of the Lord. Since they failed to look for wisdom, she is now hiding herself.
This is still true for those who reject the Lord and hate knowledge. If we have found ourselves in a state where we have been continually rejecting wisdom, we need to turn back to the Lord’s teachings. Rather than turning a deaf ear to wisdom, we need to heed what it says and submit to the Lord’s wisdom. If we do this, we will be providing nourishment and understanding to our souls.
Choose to follow the way of wisdom rather than the way of the world. Even if you are not following Jesus today, know that you can start whenever you are ready. God wants all of us to repent, follow Him, and obtain true wisdom (1 Timothy 2:3-4). If you already know the Lord as your Savior, ask Him for His wisdom and He will answer your prayer (James 1:5-8).
Let's pray:
Dear Jesus, I have followed worldly wisdom for too long. I’m choosing today to start following Your ways. Please help me to obtain wisdom. I want to walk in accordance with true wisdom rather than a false sense of wisdom. Thank You for loving me, directing me, and wanting the best for me. I will always praise You. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Oladimeji Ajegbile
Related Resource: Soft Words for Hard Days: A Conversation with Aundi Kolber
Some days feel heavy. Some moments leave us wondering how to keep going. If you’ve ever longed for encouragement amid life’s hardest moments, I have a special episode of The Love Offering for you. This week, I’m joined by therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber to discuss her latest book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. This beautiful collection of quotes, scriptures, prayers, and gentle exercises is designed to be a balm for your most tender places—a reminder that you are never alone on your journey to healing.
In our conversation, we explore:
✨ How to hold space for yourself and others in difficult seasons
✨ The power of compassionate words when life feels overwhelming
✨ Practical ways to embrace healing and take one more step forward
If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Thursday, 24 July 2025.
SHARE
