"Wisdom: More Than..."

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her."

- Proverbs 3:13-18

Wow! What a passage of Scripture; for what purpose or goal do men spend their energies and strength? Everyone spouts off his answers in rapid order: money, houses, land, goods, power - and the more people have the more they want.  Life today becomes a never-ending vicious cycle in the search for more and more, and the difficult pursuit brings no ultimate satisfaction.

The wise man, the Bible says, having learned something of life's goals, exclaims, "Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding" (3:13). As I have been studying the book of Proverbs, I see that using wise discrimination in making right choices is the basis for all happiness. Proverbs emphasizes that biblical wisdom is not just intellectualism; but it consists of the total context of moral and spiritual knowledge based on the Word of God. Jesus emphasized the same truth, but in a little different way, when He said, "Seek first His kingdom and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). A statement like this includes the wisdom of the Word that leads us to God and then on to godly living.

The proverb sharply contrasts the happiness of biblical wisdom with the coin of this world. The sons of men put a high price on silver and gold (3:14). People have died for those precious metals, and nations have sacrificed their honor over them. Rubies are also considered precious (3:15), but the advantage of having these costly possessions is a poor contrast to wisdom. What a person may desire of such costly items will never come close to what God can offer (3:15). Praise God for that!

Here is the key point I am trying to make: wisdom is of the greatest value. It is "more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold: (3:14) and is "more precious than rubies" (3:15). Nothing in this world can compare. Do you believe that? But tragically, we have an upside-down world where people lay down their money and even their lives for precious gems and gold but have little interest in God or His wisdom.

Where can a person find the formula for a meaningful and complete life? Note Proverbs 3:16-18:

Generally "long life" (3:16a)

Genuine "riches and honor" (3:16b)

"Pleasant ways" on the road of life (3:17a) where a person finds "peace" and is free from inner worries (3:17b)

"Paths of peace" where a godly person lives in harmony with his neighbors (3:17b)

The "tree of life" (3:18a)

Sounds like I will be asking of the Lord: "Lord, grant me your wisdom!"

See you Thursday night!

pcraig