“How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.” Proverbs 3:13-14 (NASB)
What is wisdom? How does one find it?
There are many definitions of wisdom, some better than others. I could spend an entire blog on just defining the word, but for now, here is a description I find helpful:
“The purpose of Proverbs is to guide the reader into wisdom, a word with many nuances. It is related to the intellect and the control of human behavior. It is a way of thinking about reality that enables us to pursue what is good in life. Through wisdom, God reveals what the values of life are and how they may be achieved.” *
As mentioned in my previous blog, I have been an ardent pursuer of wisdom for most of my adult life, starting in my late teens and continuing to this day. It is an unending fascination as I strive to incorporate the principles of godly wisdom into my daily life.
Proverbs tells us that wisdom is better than silver or gold. Who talks like this today? What financial pundit gets on television and says, “Stop spending so much time worrying about your stock portfolio and take time to study the book of Proverbs. It will be better than all the money tips I could ever give you.”
That person would lose their job, replaced by another who will dutifully carry forth the party line of “money is the answer to everything.”
Wisdom is intricately intertwined around the kingdom of God. Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom of and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matt. 6:33
These “things” that Jesus said will be added to those who seek first His kingdom are the necessities of daily life: food, clothing and shelter (see Matt. 6:25-32). Being a practical God, He knows full well that His creatures need to eat every day, wear clothes, and have a place to sleep.
The problem arises when our priorities become skewed, a situation that is doubtless true for most of us. Instead of seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, we pursue money and all the dainties and treats that it can buy.
This is where wisdom comes in, speaking softly to us, wooing us away from the ceaseless false chatter of materialism. But there is a catch to knowing wisdom: we must seek her as ardently as a lover pursues his first love (Jeremiah 29:13). Wisdom will be found only by those who appreciate and diligently seek her.
I again encourage my readers to spend time in the book of Proverbs. For starters, read the first chapter. Mine the rich ore you will find there and become delighted in the discovering the riches found only in the kingdom of righteousness.
* Note from “The Reformation Study Bible” by Ligonier Ministries.