Ever wonder what the benefits of wisdom are?
Today is December 8, 2018
This morning I read Proverbs chapter 3 and the Lord spoke to me through these words. The first 18 verses reveal what the benefits are of wisdom. When we hear the word wisdom, what do we think of; man’s wisdom or God’s wisdom?
Proverbs 3:1-18 New Living Translation (NLT)
Trusting in the Lord
3 My child,[a] never forget the things I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
2 If you do this, you will live many years,
and your life will be satisfying.
3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
4 Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.
11 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
12 For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.[b]
13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.
14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
and her wages are better than gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 She offers you long life in her right hand,
and riches and honor in her left.
17 She will guide you down delightful paths;
all her ways are satisfying.
18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.
Footnotes:
- 3:1 Hebrew My son; also in 3:11, 21.
- 3:12 Greek version reads loves, / and he punishes those he accepts as his children. Compare Heb 12:6.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I like how the New Living Translation reads.
1. The first thing the Lord mentions is: to never forget the things I have taught you and store my commands in your heart. If we do this God says you will live many years and your life will be satisfying. Wow, isn’t this what everyone wants?
2. The second thing God says is, never let loyalty and kindness leave you. God says we should tie them around our neck and write them deep within our hearts to remind us. If we do this God says we will find favor with God and people and earn a good reputation. Wow, again isn’t this what everyone wants?
3. Next the Lord says we should trust him with all our heart and don’t depend on your own understanding. And, if we seek God’s will in everything we do He will show you which path to take. Again, God tells us what to do and what we can expect as a result.
4. Next the Lord says we should not be impressed with our own wisdom. But instead fear the Lord and turn away from evil. If we do this, we can expect healing for our body and strength for our bones. Wow, another awesome promise.
5. Next the Lord says we should honor the Lord with our wealth and the best part of everything we produce. If we do this, we can expect our barns to be filled with grain and our vats overflowing with good wine. Wow, it just keeps getting better!
The next few verses talk about how to receive discipline and correction from the Lord. We need to remember God knows what is best for us and He is doing this because he loves us.
The rest of this passage summarizes who wisdom is and the results of finding wisdom;
- Joyful is the one who finds wisdom
- Wisdom is more profitable than silver and gold
- Wisdom is more precious than rubies
- Wisdom offers us long life, riches and honor
- Wisdom will guide you down delightful and satisfying paths
- Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her and happy are those who hold her tightly
We really need to pay attention to this passage, it offers us the promises and benefits of wisdom. It tells us plainly what to do and what we can expect.
Why is it that we don’t always do these things? Because we live in a fallen world and we are descendants of Adam and Eve. We do the same things that our ancestors did, we never seem to learn from their mistakes. That is why the Lord added verses 11 and 12 about discipline and correction.
As verses 5, 6 and 7 say: we often rely on our own wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Boy, does that get us in a lot of trouble. Our own understanding can really be a stumbling block to finding God’s will for our lives. We rely on what we have been taught by humans rather than relying on the Holy Spirit of God. Can we really be that arrogant to think we are more wise than the God who created everything.
If we humble ourselves and admit we don’t have all the answers, and then trust God. He gives us play by play instructions on how to live life and get the most out of it. This passage tells us what to do and what we can expect God to do in return. Please go back and read this passage again. Meditate and focus on what the Lord is telling us in this passage. Then start living your life following these principles and see what happens.
Blessings to you on this day that the Lord has created. Thank you for reading my blog.