Mensa Otabil - Choose Wisdom
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We are now in verses 13 and 14 of Proverbs chapter 3. 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. The book of Proverbs is about wisdom and the wisdom of God alive in our hearts and how we apply God’s principles practically in our day-to-day relationships with God and with man. It tells us that the source of real happiness for us is wisdom.
Wisdom is what gives us happiness because money, represented as silver and gold, does not always give us the joy we are looking for. It is clear in our lives that there are people who acquire all the money, gain all the wealth, and live the most miserable lives. Thus, wisdom is important. You can have money, but you need godly wisdom. In addition, the value of wisdom exceeds all the gold and all the silver. The passage speaks of wisdom and understanding. I want to draw your attention to what it says: happy is the man who finds wisdom.
This means that wisdom has to be sought; you must make an effort to be wise. You must seek it. We seek wisdom from the word of God. When we apply God’s word to our hearts, to our lives, to our actions, and to our conduct, when we prize His instructions above our own thinking, then we begin to find wisdom because He guides us every day by His word and by His Spirit. Wisdom must be sought. It’s an effort — a daily effort that we must make to find wisdom. Then it says that understanding must be gained.
When we gain something, it’s almost as if something has been added to it. So when you find wisdom, understanding is gained. Understanding is added to it. Wisdom has a way of bringing other things with it. Remember when Solomon prayed for wisdom? God said, «I will add to you the things that you didn’t pray for,» and He gave him more because wisdom has a way of enriching our lives. Thus, the passage states that when we find wisdom, we will gain understanding. When you examine the passage, it uses terms like «profitable» and «yields better returns» or «better profits» when we receive wisdom.
It’s almost like a commercial endeavor- an investment. When you invest in wisdom, it gives you benefits, it provides dividends, it offers knowledge, it brings understanding, and it enhances your life. So make it part of your pursuit in life, especially this year and in the coming years, to gain wisdom and find wisdom, so that you can acquire all the other things you need in your life. May the Lord grant you the tenacity and heart to pursue wisdom, find it, and gain all the good things in life.
Let’s share a word of prayer together. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, instruct me with Your knowledge. Help me to find wisdom, and let my heart gain understanding in Jesus' name.» Amen.