Proverbs 1:2. To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,
Solomon keeps piling on the synonyms right from the start to make sure that we have a clear understanding of wisdom. To wisdom he adds instruction, and to instruction he adds insight.
Insight is a huge part of being able to distinguish simple knowledge from spiritual wisdom. Insight lets us understand not only what is happening but WHY it is happening.
For example, think about your relationships. Sight lets you see what is happening on the outside of a person, but insight lets you see what is happening on the inside of a person. If you see a person on the street corner asking for money you might simply see a poor person, but you don’t know why they’re poor. Or maybe you see another student on campus arguing with someone. Lacking insight, you are quick to just consider them a bully and stay away. But insight lets you think about WHY they are being so argumentative. What experiences have brought them to this place? Insight doesn’t just simply label people as good OR bad. Rather, insight is able to see both the good and the bad in people and in situations.
So how does a person gain insight?
Notice that Solomon calls it words of insight. Sight comes from seeing, but insight comes from listening. Listening to the words of others. This means taking the time to listen to others and asking “why” questions that open up hearts and souls. But before we can do this with others we must gain insight into our own heart and soul. Listening to our own feelings, conversing with our own soul, like we see David doing in the psalms.
Psalm 42:5. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation.
Of course all of this begins with the most important word of all – the Word of Christ. As Paul tells the Colossians, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” The Word of Christ, the gospel, is THE insight that we need into all things, including the hearts and minds of both God and man. When we look at the cross we see both the deep brokenness of man and the deeper love of God for man. The cross gives us insight into the depth of every person’s sinful heart. No one is righteous. No one is pure. No one has escaped the self-righteousness of original sin. At the same time the cross gives us insight into the love and mercy of our God. A God who would come to us to rescue us from himself and from ourselves.
And what about our union with Christ? What insight does this give us into ourselves and one another? Is there something deeper, fuller, more powerful at the core of every believer that we cannot see with our natural sight? What does gospel insight let us see? A God at work? The Spirit guiding? Christ in control? The person’s new heart? Them as the new creation?
The more we know this word of Christ, the gospel of our union with Christ, the greater the insight we will have into God, ourselves, and others.
You: Do you tend to only see people with your natural sight and not spiritual insight?
You in Christ: How does your position in Christ give you greater insight into the realities of life?
Christ in you: Does the gospel give you “words of insight?” How can you make a habit of turning to the gospel for wisdom?
Pray: Father, Christ’s cross reveals so much more than just what I see. Give me the insights of Christ in me. Help me to take the time to listen to others and care for them just like you care for me. Amen.
To Live is Christ 