Proverbs 3:13-18 says,...
Today's verses are Proverbs 3:13-18, which read,
v.13 - How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.
Well it begs the question "How blessed is he?" The word "blessed" means to have a happiness because of an advancement in life. You have been following after the words in the previous chapters and verses and therefore you have a happiness because of the results seen for walking in the wisdom and understanding of God. This blessedness is attached to action for it says "who finds wisdom" and "who gains understanding." This happiness is the result of something that has been walked after.
v.14 - For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold.
The one who follows after the wisdom and understanding of God is happier or more blessed than those who follow after the money. It is interesting that wisdom and understanding are given a personal pronoun here of "her." How often do we do that with our possessions that are "its?" We say, "my money, my car, isn't she a beauty" and sometimes we even go the length of naming that "it" like a van we used on a mission trip that we called "Margarie." God gives wisdom and understanding a personal pronoun to up the connection we have with these God given gifts that we usually give to those things we have made precious to us. Forms of money are some of those things.
v.15 - She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.
The one who follows after the wisdom and understanding of God is happier or more blessed than those who follow after precious items. Rare jewels or items are another of these things we name and give value to that God says do not compare to the one is following after the wisdom of God. Our things become precious to us and we cling to them as "mine" and we care for them as we polish and clean them and we give them a special space for storage for protection to continue to be admired. The question is do we do these things for the wisdom of God? Do we cling to it? Do we care for it? Do we give special space to it in our lives?
v.16 - Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Another thing that we cherish in this life is life itself, a long life. We will go to lengths to preserve our lives through medical advancements and purity of healthy living. The one who follows after the wisdom and understanding of God is happier and blessed than those who follow after preserving their physical lives for one more day. Long life means something different to the one who is following after the wisdom and understanding of God.
v.17 - Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.
v.13 - How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.
Well it begs the question "How blessed is he?" The word "blessed" means to have a happiness because of an advancement in life. You have been following after the words in the previous chapters and verses and therefore you have a happiness because of the results seen for walking in the wisdom and understanding of God. This blessedness is attached to action for it says "who finds wisdom" and "who gains understanding." This happiness is the result of something that has been walked after.
v.14 - For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold.
The one who follows after the wisdom and understanding of God is happier or more blessed than those who follow after the money. It is interesting that wisdom and understanding are given a personal pronoun here of "her." How often do we do that with our possessions that are "its?" We say, "my money, my car, isn't she a beauty" and sometimes we even go the length of naming that "it" like a van we used on a mission trip that we called "Margarie." God gives wisdom and understanding a personal pronoun to up the connection we have with these God given gifts that we usually give to those things we have made precious to us. Forms of money are some of those things.
v.15 - She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.
The one who follows after the wisdom and understanding of God is happier or more blessed than those who follow after precious items. Rare jewels or items are another of these things we name and give value to that God says do not compare to the one is following after the wisdom of God. Our things become precious to us and we cling to them as "mine" and we care for them as we polish and clean them and we give them a special space for storage for protection to continue to be admired. The question is do we do these things for the wisdom of God? Do we cling to it? Do we care for it? Do we give special space to it in our lives?
v.16 - Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Another thing that we cherish in this life is life itself, a long life. We will go to lengths to preserve our lives through medical advancements and purity of healthy living. The one who follows after the wisdom and understanding of God is happier and blessed than those who follow after preserving their physical lives for one more day. Long life means something different to the one who is following after the wisdom and understanding of God.
v.17 - Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.
Another
thing that we cherish in this life is peace. We want to be at peace
with ourselves and with others. We will do anything to keep the peace.
We want things to be pleasant and pleasing to us. The wisdom and
understanding of God are ways and paths to these desirable things and
actually the one who follows after God's wisdom and understanding are
happier and more blessed than those who try to find some other path or
way to them.
v.18 - She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.
Wisdom is to be taken a hold of. Those who do will have a long life that includes this metaphor for eternal life with God our Creator, the tree of life. Wisdom is to be held fast to. Both the words used for "take hold" and "hold fast" are very strong in their grasp. This again is not a passive activity but a very active one. It takes focus. It takes resources. It takes time. It takes devotion. It takes complete involvement of mind, body, and soul. Your pursuit of the wisdom and understanding of God is not a "weekend warrior" hobby.
All else in life comes from this pursuit of following after God. Your marriage is a product of it. Your parenting is a product of it. Your work ethic is a product of it. Your educational pursuits are a product of it. Your speech is a product of it. Your attitude is a product of it. Your physical actions are a product of it. Your thoughts are a product of it. It is much more than just an "it" in your life but has become a "her," a personal pronoun to you that you cherish and care for. Let's pray.
"Lord, may Your wisdom go from an it to a she in our lives. May we realize the benefits of Your wisdom that out shine all the precious things that we cling to in this life. May we give proper time, space, and energy to what we are to be taking a hold of and holding fast to. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.18 - She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.
Wisdom is to be taken a hold of. Those who do will have a long life that includes this metaphor for eternal life with God our Creator, the tree of life. Wisdom is to be held fast to. Both the words used for "take hold" and "hold fast" are very strong in their grasp. This again is not a passive activity but a very active one. It takes focus. It takes resources. It takes time. It takes devotion. It takes complete involvement of mind, body, and soul. Your pursuit of the wisdom and understanding of God is not a "weekend warrior" hobby.
All else in life comes from this pursuit of following after God. Your marriage is a product of it. Your parenting is a product of it. Your work ethic is a product of it. Your educational pursuits are a product of it. Your speech is a product of it. Your attitude is a product of it. Your physical actions are a product of it. Your thoughts are a product of it. It is much more than just an "it" in your life but has become a "her," a personal pronoun to you that you cherish and care for. Let's pray.
"Lord, may Your wisdom go from an it to a she in our lives. May we realize the benefits of Your wisdom that out shine all the precious things that we cling to in this life. May we give proper time, space, and energy to what we are to be taking a hold of and holding fast to. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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