Proverbs 7:4

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about our relationship with wisdom: 

Proverbs 7:4 (ESV Strong's)

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”

and call insight your intimate friend,

In today's society, especially the educational world, wisdom is accumulated and obtained by the amount of degrees you have on the wall.   Knowledge, people believe, equals wisdom.   Like most false philosophy there is an appearance of truth in such thoughts.  However, what we learn from the book of Proverbs, the above verse being a key indicator, is that Wisdom is not simply accumulated knowledge.  In the early chapters of Proverbs we were told that the beginning of wisdom was the "fear of the Lord.".  In the above proverb we are told that wisdom is to be considered in the context of a relationship.   Wisdom is personified in this proverb as a person.   We are to be so close to God in fear (reverence) that we are to call wisdom "sister" or "friend.".  In 1 Corinthians 1-2 we see that Christ IS wisdom.   The thought here is that to have a close relationship with Wisdom we have to have a real relationship with God through Christ.   Wisdom is found, not in books, degrees, or graduate courses, it is found in a real relationship with Christ, who is our intimate friend.

The subject discussed in this proverb is our relationship with wisdom. The first line tells us that we are to have a strong relationship with wisdom. Wisdom is to be as close to us as a “sister.” How close is wisdom to you? Do you seek to have a close relationship with wisdom? The second line in this proverb tells us something more about that relationship. We are to call wisdom (or, to identify her), a “kinsman.” A kinsperson is a close relationship. Wisdom is supposed to be in close relationship to us. However, the second line also gives us another word for “wisdom.” It is “understanding.” This proverb tells us that we are to seek a strong relationship with wisdom, which is the ability to have understanding in difficult times. Proverbs chapter seven goes on to show a vivid picture of what it looks like when we don’t hold wisdom close and pursue other “relationships.” Make wisdom a close relative.