Following the Guidelines to Obtain Wisdom, Part Two by Loretta Huggins

PROVERBS: GPS to A BETTER LIFE

Blog #11b 

Following the Guidelines to Obtain Wisdom, Part Two

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” 

(Proverbs 2:1-5 KJV)

Another perspective of Proverbs 2:1-5: This passage implicitly invokes the idea of contrapositive. It suggests that if people do not follow these steps and do not actively seek out wisdom and understanding, they will not attain it. The absence of the necessary conditions for gaining knowledge and understanding will result in the absence of knowledge and understanding.

This is a fundamental principle in many areas of life. If we want to achieve certain goals, we must identify the necessary conditions for success and actively pursue them. The absence of these conditions, whether due to our own neglect or outside factors can prevent us from achieving our desired outcomes.

The contrapositive theorem is a useful tool for thinking about this principle because it helps us to see the flip side of a given proposition. If “a” is necessary for “b” to be true, then the absence of “a” is sufficient for the absence of “b”. In the case of Proverbs 2:1-5, the pursuit of wisdom and understanding is necessary for finding knowledge of God, and the absence of this pursuit will result in a lack of knowledge.

In conclusion, Proverbs 2:1-5 speaks to the importance of seeking wisdom and understanding to gain knowledge of God. Again, it invokes the idea of contrapositive, which reminds us that the absence of the necessary conditions for success can prevent us from achieving our goals in life: as this principle can – and should be – applied to all areas of our lives.

Questions for discussion:

1) In what ways can we actively seek wisdom and understanding, and how can we ensure that we are not neglecting the necessary conditions for success?

2) How can we apply the principle of the contrapositive in our everyday lives to achieve our desired outcomes?

Loretta Huggins, born and raised in San Francisco, CA, has served in the ministry with her husband, Larry Huggins since 1989: administrator, hostess, event planner, and teacher. She has traveled to eighteen countries. She is the co-founder and co-pastor of ZChurch.