I love wisdom. Learning wisdom bring so much joy and delight. It is life giving.
Today I read Proverbs chapter 8. It reminded me of my favourite thing about wisdom.
That is...that wisdom is woven into the fabric of God's creation.
When God created the world, He created it with wisdom. He made our universe so that the principles of wisdom are woven into the fabric of our reality. Just like the laws of nature work in the realm of the physical world so the principles of wisdom work in the realm of the practical daily living of life. You can deny or ignore wisdom but doing so is equivalent to hating your own life. Simply...wisdom works. Think about the following aspects of wisdom and how they are life-giving:
- hard work and laziness and their subsequent results
- the power of words for both good and evil
- the importance of who we keep company with
- the way we treat the poor and needy and it's influence on the rest of life
- generosity and greed and their subsequent results
- the importance of intentionality and discipline in raising children
- the results of living life in the fear of the Lord or ignoring Him altogether
- the results of living a disciplined life and reigning in our feelings and flesh
- pride and arrogance or humility and brokeness (and related - a listening and learning posture towards life verses a closed and self-confident way of life)
- the heart and inner world and it's importance in a healthy, whole and happy life
These all have been woven into the fabric of God's creation.
Read Proverbs 8 again and note the central part of the passage (vs 22-31). One of the reasons wisdom works and that we ought to listen to it so carefully is that God created the world with wisdom in it's nature.
1 Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!
2 On the hilltop along the road,
she takes her stand at the crossroads.
3 By the gates at the entrance to the town,
on the road leading in, she cries aloud,
4 “I call to you, to all of you!
I raise my voice to all people.
5 You simple people, use good judgment.
You foolish people, show some understanding.
6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right,
7 for I speak the truth
and detest every kind of deception.
8 My advice is wholesome.
There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
clear to those with knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction rather than silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
Nothing you desire can compare with it.
12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
15 Because of me, kings reign,
and rulers make just decrees.
16 Rulers lead with my help,
and nobles make righteous judgments.[a]
17 “I love all who love me.
Those who search will surely find me.
18 I have riches and honor,
as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,
my wages better than sterling silver!
20 I walk in righteousness,
in paths of justice.
21 Those who love me inherit wealth.
I will fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord formed me from the beginning,
before he created anything else.
23 I was appointed in ages past,
at the very first, before the earth began.
24 I was born before the oceans were created,
before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
25 Before the mountains were formed,
before the hills, I was born—
26 before he had made the earth and fields
and the first handfuls of soil.
27 I was there when he established the heavens,
when he drew the horizon on the oceans.
28 I was there when he set the clouds above,
when he established springs deep in the earth.
29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas,
so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.
And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,
30 I was the architect at his side.
I was his constant delight,
rejoicing always in his presence.
31 And how happy I was with the world he created;
how I rejoiced with the human family!
32 “And so, my children,[b] listen to me,
for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates,
waiting for me outside my home!
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
All who hate me love death.”
Today I read Proverbs chapter 8. It reminded me of my favourite thing about wisdom.
That is...that wisdom is woven into the fabric of God's creation.
When God created the world, He created it with wisdom. He made our universe so that the principles of wisdom are woven into the fabric of our reality. Just like the laws of nature work in the realm of the physical world so the principles of wisdom work in the realm of the practical daily living of life. You can deny or ignore wisdom but doing so is equivalent to hating your own life. Simply...wisdom works. Think about the following aspects of wisdom and how they are life-giving:
- hard work and laziness and their subsequent results
- the power of words for both good and evil
- the importance of who we keep company with
- the way we treat the poor and needy and it's influence on the rest of life
- generosity and greed and their subsequent results
- the importance of intentionality and discipline in raising children
- the results of living life in the fear of the Lord or ignoring Him altogether
- the results of living a disciplined life and reigning in our feelings and flesh
- pride and arrogance or humility and brokeness (and related - a listening and learning posture towards life verses a closed and self-confident way of life)
- the heart and inner world and it's importance in a healthy, whole and happy life
These all have been woven into the fabric of God's creation.
Read Proverbs 8 again and note the central part of the passage (vs 22-31). One of the reasons wisdom works and that we ought to listen to it so carefully is that God created the world with wisdom in it's nature.
1 Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!
2 On the hilltop along the road,
she takes her stand at the crossroads.
3 By the gates at the entrance to the town,
on the road leading in, she cries aloud,
4 “I call to you, to all of you!
I raise my voice to all people.
5 You simple people, use good judgment.
You foolish people, show some understanding.
6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right,
7 for I speak the truth
and detest every kind of deception.
8 My advice is wholesome.
There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
clear to those with knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction rather than silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
Nothing you desire can compare with it.
12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
15 Because of me, kings reign,
and rulers make just decrees.
16 Rulers lead with my help,
and nobles make righteous judgments.[a]
17 “I love all who love me.
Those who search will surely find me.
18 I have riches and honor,
as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,
my wages better than sterling silver!
20 I walk in righteousness,
in paths of justice.
21 Those who love me inherit wealth.
I will fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord formed me from the beginning,
before he created anything else.
23 I was appointed in ages past,
at the very first, before the earth began.
24 I was born before the oceans were created,
before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
25 Before the mountains were formed,
before the hills, I was born—
26 before he had made the earth and fields
and the first handfuls of soil.
27 I was there when he established the heavens,
when he drew the horizon on the oceans.
28 I was there when he set the clouds above,
when he established springs deep in the earth.
29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas,
so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.
And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,
30 I was the architect at his side.
I was his constant delight,
rejoicing always in his presence.
31 And how happy I was with the world he created;
how I rejoiced with the human family!
32 “And so, my children,[b] listen to me,
for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates,
waiting for me outside my home!
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
All who hate me love death.”
