You Can’t Win Alone (Proverbs 24:5-6)
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Proverbs 24:5-6
A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
You know that saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”?
Well, Proverbs 24:5-6 gives us an even better version of that idea. It teaches us that wisdom is not a solitary pursuit. It’s a team effort. It understands and relies upon the wisdom of others. It knows how to use the wise counsel of others and the safety of a multitude of counselors.
Now even in the midst of all this teamwork talk, we see in these verses a spiritual giant. “A wise man is full of strength”. The person of spiritual knowledge is a giant in strength. Let that sink in.
The person of spiritual knowledge is a giant in strength. They’re like a tank rolling onto a battlefield full of tricycles.
And part of the reason goes back to the team… the reason the wise are strong is because they don't fight alone. They lean into the wise guidance of brothers and sisters. They know there's safety in the multitude of counselors. They don't wage war solo.
Now if a lesson to be learned here is that the wise are surrounded by others who strengthen them and help make them wiser, then the implicit lesson is that we ought to strengthen ourselves wisely.
In other words, who surrounds you? Are you also surrounded by spiritual giants of strength? Or little babies? Little dogs nipping at your heels?
As the Proverbs tell us, “Iron sharpens iron”.
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm”.
The people you surround yourself with are so critical. You and I are not meant to walk the Christian life alone. Keeping the battle language from yesterday and today – we are not meant to fight our battles solo.
But here's the best news: even beyond our earthly counselors, we have a greater power at work within us.
The Christian is – as Paul writes in Colossians 1 – “filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9) and “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might” (Colossians 1:11).
God Himself fills us with wisdom. God Himself strengthens us with His might.
He surrounds us with His people, and He fills us with His Spirit, so that we can wage our wars with strength that isn't our own.
So as we pray today, think of who surrounds you and who is strengthening you.
Are they moving you closer to Jesus, the wisdom of God?
And ask yourself: What would it look like for me to seek the Lord for strength and counsel today?
Let’s pray.
