Proverbs 17:16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?… We may define wisdom to be a right apprehension of those things that are best for us, and a diligent pursuit of them by such means as are agreeable to the laws of piety and virtue. Men have sometimes abilities and opportunities to act wisely for themselves, but neglect them, and have no heart to make their just advantages of them. 1. A man of good natural faculties and endowments of mind may be said to have the price of wisdom in his hand, when he hath no heart to it. 2. This price may be understood of the schools of good education and learning. Those who are brought up in such places often act the part of fools. 3. Riches are in many respects the price of wisdom, in that they enable their owners to buy books, to hire teachers, and to be at leisure to spend their time in the study of useful learning. 4. Men of great power and authority have the price of wisdom in their hands. 5. We have a noble price put into our hands to get wisdom, in the ordinances of religion and means of grace we enjoy. These advantages are the portion of every Christian. But these opportunities are sadly often in the hands of those who have no heart to make use of them. This appears — (1) From the want of zeal in attending public worship; and — (2) From the errors and vices of our common conversation.We often condemn our own mismanagement of the talents which God has given us, and look back with much regret upon those opportunities which have slipped through our hands. But the power is often given without the will, so that we suffer many opportunities to pass away and be lost without improving them to any good purpose. (W. Reading, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?WEB: Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding? |
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