WISDOM: WHAT IS IN IT FOR ME?
JULY 13, 2022
PROVERBS 2:1-11
My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.
What is in this “hidden treasure” called Wisdom that makes it worth the hard work? I don’t know about you, but I have this desire to understand if I pursue Wisdom, what is the outcome? What is in it for me? What are the benefits of seeking Wisdom?
This is what wisdom will do for you, teaches Proverbs 2.
• Wisdom Will Draw You Closer to God v5-8 The first reward for seeking wisdom is that it will draw you closer to God. Wisdom, at its core, is theological. Seeking wisdom leads to God because you will discover the fear of the Lord. The opposite is true as well. Seeking God leads to wisdom. Look at verse 6, “for the Lord gives wisdom.” Some people just want God to tell them what to do. Some people want to decide what to do on their own. Both are extremes. God doesn’t want immature, uninformed people who do not know how to live. God also doesn’t want independent, isolated people are not aware of their need for Him. He desires to give us wisdom so that we can be free, joyful, mature co-laborers with Him.
• Wisdom Will Help You Live Well v9-11 Wisdom leads to God. Wisdom also leads to a good life. Sometimes we think the path wisdom will lead us on is like quitting a bad habit or giving up an unhealthy lifestyle. All we see is the things we miss, even though they are not the best for us, for example food that we have to give up, or the lifestyle we need to break with. The picture painted in the next few verses describes an internal transformation that happens, wisdom gained will change us from the inside out.
We read that:
o You will know the right thing to do v9 The first thing wisdom will give you is insight into what the right path is. As you think about which path is right and why, you will see the value of wisdom and desire to choose rightly.
o You will enjoy doing the right thing v10 – As you think through wise choices, wisdom will become more than just a habit. it will become pleasing to you. You will see good produced by wise choices and will enjoy doing good. You will also see evil for what it is and no longer desire it.
o You will be protected from evil v11 Wisdom protects you from evil both by showing you the right way to go, but also by making you the kind of person who delights in choosing rightly. It’s a double defense that leads to living well. You will know the right thing to do and you will enjoy doing it.
Now, perhaps it is just me, but I believe these a some very awesome payoffs to pursuing Wisdom. Let’s keep pursuing wisdom, step by step, as God our father and our Lord Jesus Christ leads us. I do not know anyone who would say they do not want to live skillfully, to live well, to enjoy a blessed and happy life. We are going to see, that as we keep going in Proverbs, the benefits of Wisdom will be worth it and will keep being revealed.
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