This thought from Proverbs 8 made my jaw drop this morning. It comes right out and unabashedly states that using wisdom is associated with honor, enduring wealth, prosperity, and justice. Who wouldn’t want to embrace wisdom with benefits like these?
“With me (wisdom) are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full” (Proverbs 8:18-21 NIV).
These aren’t new claims, since wisdom has been around longer than the hills and is older than dirt.
“I (wisdom) was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. When there were no watery depths I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth” (verses 23-26).
I love the image in verse 30, of wisdom being with God constantly and being delighted with what he’s made.
“Then I (wisdom) was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind” (verse 30).
I never get tired of learning wisdom. The pay-off is just too great. Think about this – a rich inheritance, being close to God, and finding justice for the world! The best way I stay on the path of wisdom is to keep reading, keep examining, keep growing and using what the Bible teaches. It’s a constant sifting exercise, and so worth the effort.
by Kathy Sheldon Davis
kathysheldondavis.com 