Understanding Part 21

Proverbs 21:30 NKJV

There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord.

One way we can tell if we are acting with understanding is to observe how our actions line up with God’s will. We can look at His Word which is His established will and we can look at specific instructions He gave us by His Spirit. As Solomon says in this verse, if the advice or so-called wisdom or understanding goes contrary to God’s instructions, it is not wisdom, and those wanting to follow it lack understanding. Regardless of what our minds or emotions tell us, we will never win going against God. That is why we must follow Proverbs 3:5 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” (NKJV)

Understanding Part 20

Proverbs 21:16 NKJV

A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.

It is not enough to get understanding. We must follow it and stick with it. This verse says it all. People do not die prematurely by accident. They wander from the way of understanding and end up in situations that ultimately take their lives prematurely. Hosea 4:6 NKJV says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me. Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

Many have understood that not having knowledge can kill you. That contradicts the saying “What you don’t know won’t kill you.” Sometimes that may be true, but often times not knowing what you need to know can result in your demise. On the other hand, Hosea 4:6 points out that the problem is not always that knowledge was not present, but sometimes it is rejecting the knowledge we have. Sometimes it is wandering away from knowledge we once walked in. We may never know specifically why some good people died prematurely but Proverbs 21:16 lets us know it had something to do with a lack of understanding, or straying away from what was understood. We must pursue understanding, take it and stick with it.

Understanding Part 19

Proverbs 20:5 NKJV

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

When we lack understanding, we hesitate to seek counsel. Sometimes it is because we have made up our minds what we want to do and do not want anyone to contradict it. That is a sure sign we need to seek counsel. If we are confident in our spirits that our decision is good there would be no fear of being contradicted. There are also times that we refrain from seeking counsel because we don’t want to bother someone when we are “sort of” certain what to do. A sign of understanding is when we go to someone we trust with a track record of having wisdom and draw insight out of them. It is not always that we need an answer, but sometimes we are just hungry to learn more. When a ‘know enough’ or ‘know it all’ person sits in the presence of a wise one, he will get little or nothing. When a man of understanding who desires to grow continually sits in the presence of the same person, the wise one will automatically pour out wisdom from his insides. Sometimes the wisdom of God will flow from the deep and things will come forth that even enlighten the wise one. 

Understanding Part 18

Proverbs 17:27 NKJV

He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

It is no wonder we are told to make sure we get understanding! It affects so many areas of our lives. Here Solomon points out that understanding causes us to be calm. The Amplified Version translates it as having “a cool spirit.” When we allow our emotions to drastically swing us from one extreme to the next it shows a lack of understanding. When we are quick to react without evaluating the circumstances and investigating the realities, we exhibit a lack of understanding. The more we understand, the more self-control we will display. Our enemy can hurt us more easily when we are predictable. When he can plan to present something to us knowing exactly how we will respond, his work is easier because we are weaker. As we gain understanding our enemies will find it more difficult to throw us off or distract us and take us off course.

Understanding Part 17

Proverbs 15:32 NKJV

Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

Proverbs 19:25 NKJV

Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

One of the ways we increase our level of understanding is by responding positively to correction. First of all, when we continually put up a defense against correction we exhibit a lack of understanding. We need to find out why it is so hard for us to be corrected. When we are corrected we need to listen attentively, get our emotions under control, and then evaluate what we have heard soberly. If we respectfully respond to correction we can only get better and our understanding will increase. 

Understanding Part 16

Proverbs 15:21 NKJV

Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, but a man of understanding walks uprightly.

Solomon points out here that when we choose to live foolishly, it is because of a lack of understanding. On the other hand, when we have understanding we choose the upright way. Ignorance about the true consequences of sin and wrong choices causes a person to live without purpose. Understanding enables us to choose to do what is right in the eyes of God.