The Secret Price of Wisdom NO ONE Wants to Pay
I believe wisdom is available to everyone. Now if wisdom is available to all, why doesn't everyone receive it and use it to excel? The answer lies not in its availability but in the willingness to pay the cost to obtain it. The true price of wisdom isn't monetary—it's the emotional and spiritual cost of humility, correction, and change.
Proverbs 9:7-9 (KJV)
7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
The Scorner: Why Wisdom Avoids the Foolish
The Bible and a quick survey of most professional settings makes it clear that not everyone is equipped to receive wisdom. Verse 7 explains why wisdom doesn't engage with the scorner or the fool. According to the Benson Commentary, a scorner displays contempt toward others through ridicule and arrogance. A scorner rejects instruction because they believe they already know it all — and if you try to offer correction, you'll face resistance, insults, and even hostility.
A scorner's rejection of wisdom isn't about the wisdom itself but the emotional price attached to receiving it. The scorner is unwilling to pay that price because:
Accepting wisdom would mean admitting they don't know everything.
Correction would require humility — setting aside their pride and ego.
Growth would mean letting go of emotional responses and misguided self-confidence.
Feelings make great servants but terrible masters. — Dallas Willard
A scorner allows emotions to rule their decisions, leading them down misguided paths. Wisdom requires the willingness to override those feelings — and that's a price most scorners are unwilling to pay.
The Cost of Rebuke
Rebuke — expressing disapproval or correction — comes with a price for both the giver and the receiver. For the giver, it can mean facing rejection or backlash. For the receiver, the price is even greater:
Swallowing pride and admitting they were wrong.
Facing the discomfort of personal flaws being exposed.
Committing to the hard work of change.
Even when wisdom is free, the emotional cost of receiving it is expensive. That's why many reject it — they aren't willing to feel the sting of correction, even though it could lead to growth.
The Wise: Why Correction is a Gift
In contrast to the scorner, the wise person courageously welcomes correction. Verse 8 says that a wise man will love you for offering rebuke. Why? Because the wise person understands that correction is not a criticism — it's a gift.
The wise person sees rebuke as an opportunity to grow:
They are predisposed to learning and improving.
They are willing to endure the discomfort of external inspection.
They understand growth comes not just from recognizing existing flaws but also from working to correct them.
The process is painful. Growth requires moving through three stages:
Inspection – Willingness to allow an external source to identify flaws and gaps.
Introspection – Contemplating and accepting the input received and also identifying your own gaps.
Implementation – Doing the hard work of changing — even if you stumble along the way.
This is why the wise person becomes wiser — because they are willing to pay the price. They recognize that correction is not a weakness but a strength in action.
The Hidden Cost of Wisdom
The cost of wisdom is not just about personal humility — it's about social exposure. When you pursue wisdom publicly, you open yourself to ridicule from those who aren't willing to pay the same price. But your resilience and determination in the face of criticism only serve to highlight the value of your wisdom.
You may feel weak or foolish in front of others.
You may face criticism or misunderstanding.
You may question if the process is worth it.
True wisdom requires walking through the process of inspection, introspection, and implementation — there are no shortcuts. Trying to bypass the process means showing up unprepared at the next stage of life — an imposter. Growth happens when you embrace the discomfort of learning and correction.
The shortcut is never a shortcut. It is always the longcut.
Who Will Pay the Price?
Wisdom is not a privilege reserved for a few — it is available to all, but it comes with a cost. The scorner, in their comfort, refuses to pay the price, choosing ignorance over growth. The wise man, however, understands that growth is not free-it comes at a cost, but the rewards far exceed the sacrifice.
Proverbs 4:7 reminds us:
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
The question isn't whether wisdom is available — it's whether we're willing to pay the price.
