Pay Attention to the IFs to Get to the THEN
Emphasis: Pursuing Wisdom
Attribute: God Is Generous With Wisdom
Theme: “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” — Proverbs 2:5 (KJV)
So many of God’s promises are unconditional. His character does not change, His love is steadfast, and His faithfulness does not depend upon ours. But it may—or may not—surprise you to discover that Scripture also contains promises with conditions attached.
Sometimes there is an IF before the THEN.
When I was a child, I had to recite the poem If— by Rudyard Kipling. To this day, when I hear that poem, something lights up inside of me. This season of my life has brought it back to my mind on more than one occasion because it is filled with lessons about perseverance, character, patience, and keeping yourself steady when everything around you seems anything but steady.
Kipling begins by asking whether you can keep your head when others are losing theirs, trust while being doubted, wait without becoming weary, and refuse to answer lies with lies or hatred with hatred. The poem continues through a long list of IFs, and then finally comes the result:
“Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!”
In other words, if you develop this kind of character and endurance, then this is what it will produce.
Last night, I came across an IF Scripture in the Bible, written by the wisest of men, King Solomon, and immediately my mind went back to that poem.
The IFs of Wisdom
Proverbs 2 begins:
“My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures…” — Proverbs 2:1–4 (KJV)
Look closely at what God is asking.
If you will receive His words.
If you will treasure His commandments.
If you will incline your ear toward wisdom.
If you will apply your heart to understanding.
If you will cry out for knowledge.
If you will seek wisdom like silver and search for it like hidden treasure.
Then comes verse 5:
“THEN shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”
There is something on the other side of those IFs.
Don’t Skip the IF Trying to Get to the THEN
We love the promises of God—and we should. But sometimes we want the THEN while overlooking the IF.
Solomon tells us that wisdom must be pursued. Not casually glanced at. Not occasionally considered. Sought after like treasure.
And then Proverbs 2:6 reveals where that wisdom ultimately comes from:
“For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”
We pursue, but God provides.
We seek, but God gives.
We incline our ears, apply our hearts, search His Word, and cry out for understanding—and God faithfully meets the heart that genuinely desires to know Him.
Maybe that is why this passage speaks so strongly to me in this season. I don’t simply want information about God. I want the knowledge of God. I want wisdom that changes how I think, how I respond, how I speak, and how I live.
And Proverbs gives us the pathway.
Pay attention to the IFs if you want to get to the THEN.
Life Application
Read Proverbs 2:1–6 again, but this time circle every IF and underline the THEN.
Then ask yourself: Am I seeking God’s wisdom like something valuable, or am I expecting wisdom without pursuing it?
God has placed treasure in His Word.
Seek it. Search for it. Ask for it. Apply it.
There is a THEN waiting on the other side of those IFs.
Prayer
Father, give me a heart that truly desires Your wisdom. Teach me to seek Your Word as treasure and apply my heart to understanding. Help me not to overlook the IF while reaching for the THEN. Above everything else, may my pursuit of wisdom lead me into a deeper knowledge of You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
