One of the characteristics of a faithful man is wisdom.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water. But a man of understanding will draw it out. Prov 20:5
The NLT translation renders the passage, “Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.”
The passage extols the man of understanding or insight.
Verse 16 of Proverbs 20, gives us an example of such wisdom. Herein it is said it is foolish to lend money to a stranger without securing a pledge (collateral). The Israelites could not require a pledge from other Israelites (Exodus 22:25—27). Thus, the stranger here is a non-Israelite.
See also verse 29 of the chapter. A faithful man acquires wisdom with age. Some people grow older and wiser; some just grow older. I want to be the former.
As I grow older, the truth found in verse 29 is very apparent. As we grow older we lose our physical strength. The word for this process is sarcopenia. It is a known medical fact that after about age 30, one begins to lose muscle mass. The rate of loss differs depending on many factors but this is a process that is unavoidable and is a factor in the occurrence of falls and fractures in older adults.
The glory of young men is their strength. And the splendor of old men is their gray head.
The glory of young men is their strength but age will change that. However as we are losing this strength, our wisdom, our inner strength, should be increasing.
Paul addressed it in 1 Cor 4:16 – “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”
Proverbs 19:20 – Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.
The faithful man is a man of wisdom.