People must make an effort to get knowledge and wisdom, and, they have to make an effort not to. Here are some key works related to the acquisition of wisdom: hearing, perception, reception, attaining, understanding. This seems to be a progression to me. You first hear an idea, you perceive what it means, you receive it (or refuse it), then you accrue the benefits of it; all the steps of which lead to wisdom.
Proverbs tells us Wisdom cries out to both the Simple and the Scorner. If they were to turn, she would pour out her spirit and make known her words. The Simple person is unaware of basic facts, does not know choices, or have comprehension. He may not be capable of more complex mental activities. The Scorner looks upon Wisdom’s ways as inferior and is more than willing to say so. If the Simple and Scorner will turn (steer away from the evil way of doing things), Wisdom will make them capable of understanding. The spirit of Wisdom would enable them to think the way the Wisdom thinks. Wise concepts will be revealed for them . They will be able to see as they never have seen before, as when in a dark room and the light has been turned on. What a wonderful thing this is: for the Simple to become wise and capable and for this Scorner to have a humble, hopeful view of things. But it takes the effort of turning
Some people choose not to have wisdom for they hate inconvenient truth and they do not choose the fear of the Lord. They would have none of Wisdom’s counsel. They despise all the reproofs. The turning away of the Simple will slay them. Those that choose prosperity over wisdom (and obedience and godliness) are choosing destruction. It takes effort to be wise and godly and it takes effort not to be wise and godly. If we are going spend our energy, let us make the effort that profits to godliness and results in wisdom. All such things are decisions easy to make that can have profound, if not eternal, consequences. The only difficulty comes in choosing a discipline over a want, the uncomfortable truth over a comfortable lie.
