I love the Old Testament book of Proverbs and have reread it every January for several years now. There is no way I could choose one favorite verse, but one I return to again and again is Proverbs 9:9. The New International Version renders this verse “Instruct the wise, and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” Here are four things I take from this verse.
I DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING. You may think that is obvious, but the truth is I sometimes come across as though I know a lot more than I do. I am finally learning that it is good to keep in mind that I don’t know everything; I don’t even know as much as I sometimes think I do.
Not only do I not know everything, I COULD BE WRONG. I don’t like to be wrong, but there have been plenty of times when I have been wrong. I’ve been wrong on some little things, and I have been wrong on some big things. It hasn’t always been easy for me to admit that I could be or was wrong.
If I could be wrong, then it follows that THE PERSON WHO DISAGREES WITH ME COULD BE RIGHT. If it is hard to admit you could be or were wrong, it’s probably even harder to admit that the person who disagreed with you was right. I know people who have disagreed with me have been right at times.
In light of these first three revelations (that I’m sure surprise no one), I NEED TO KEEP LEARNING AND GROWING IN WISDOM. I don’t need to know everything, I don’t need to always be right, and it’s ok that someone who disagrees with me is right. What I need to do is to keep on learning and growing. And these four affirmations indicate at least some progress.
Going back to Proverbs 9:9, A CERTAIN LEVEL OF WISDOM IS ASSUMED if a person who is instructed will become even wiser. And A CERTAIN LEVEL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ASSUMED if a person who is taught will learn more. I don’t think we can be too optimistic for those who think they know everything, who don’t think they are ever wrong and someone else could be right, or don’t realize they need to continue to learn and grow.
Proverbs 1:7 gives the theme of the book: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” By “fear of the LORD” the Bible does not mean that we shrink back in terror from God, but rather that we acknowledge Him as Creator, worship Him as God, and submit to Him as Lord. That is a good beginning point, isn’t it? From there we can continue to welcome wisdom and instruction into our lives.
Share this post with others if you think it will encourage them and I welcome comments below.
photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/31167076@N07/5471047557″>question mark</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a>
Pastor Bob Mink 
Yes and too often you may think you know but you find out that you don’t know, you know?
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So true, take care, say hello to your lovely wife from me, Nora.
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This is pretty cool, Prof. -Kyler Aszterbaum
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Thank you my friend.
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Such wisdom and humbleness! 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Why do you read Proverbs every January?
-Candace
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31 chapters in Proverbs and 31 days in January. I start the year off by focusing on the wisdom of Proverbs one chapter a day for 31 days.
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Thank you for sharing =)
-Derrick Pang
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You’re welcome
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this is so cool. it made me look at things in a different perspective. i guess i really don’t know everything x)
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Good for you.
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I really enjoyed this post professor! It is very humbling when we reach those places of realizing that we don’t know everything and that we aren’t always right. It just blows my mind and I find it very amazing that we can never stop growing and learning because our God is so infinite and awesome.
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I really enjoyed your post professor. It really is very humbling when we come to those places of realizing that we don’t know everything and that we are not always right and accepting that. But also I find it so wonderful that there is always room to grow in wisdom and knowledge because our God is so infinite and so awesome!
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I really enjoyed your post professor. It really is very humbling when we come to realize that we don’t know everything and that we are not always right and accept that. But also I find it so wonderful that we are able to still grow in wisdom and knowledge as we fear the Lord because our God is so infinite and so awesome!
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Thanks Alexis.
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Love this! I feel inspired to let myself learn and grow in wisdom!
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Not many want to admit they don’t know everything, thank you for taking the courage to say it so we know we are not alone!
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Thanks Karla.
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Larry Turner has read this and enjoyed it very much.
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Thanks Larry.
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Thanks Allison.
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I know I struggle with this a lot (almost daily) but I have been getting better at taking resposiblity for when I am wrong, not just for their sake but for mine too. Thanks Professor Mink
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Thanks Brittney.
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