Proverbs on Wisdom

Proverbs 3:13-26 (1st of 2)

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. (13-15) Solomon teaches the joy of obtaining true wisdom which in the New Testament is called the knowledge of God (Romans 11:33, II Corinthians 2:14, 4:6, Colossians 2:3) He provides a comparative study: wisdom is more profitable than silver, yields better returns than gold, and is more precious than rubies nothing experienced, desired or imagined can possibly compare with the joy and fruit of wisdom, the knowledge of God By his own experience Solomon could make such a comparison, for initially he sought the knowledge of God and His wisdom above all else, asking for a discerning heart to govern people and to distinguish between right and wrong (I Kings 3:9) God affirmed Solomons request for wisdom above riches, honor and long life, and so promised him all these and proclaimed that he would have no equal (I Kings 3:10 -13) King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth, and the whole world sought to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart (I Kings 10:23) When the Queen of Sheba met him, she was overwhelmed and proclaimed that the reports of his wisdom, achievements and wealth were not the half of it (I Kings 10:5 -7) Eventually Solomon left his first love (Revelations 2:4), and focused on the blessings of God rather than the personal knowledge of God, and the Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel (I Kings 11:9) He became obsessed with wealth and power, and then became lost in lust, taking for himself one thousand women (I Kings 11:3) so much for the wisdom of Solomon I denied myself nothing my eyes desired and refused my heart no pleasure (Ecc 2:10) The result: Everything was meaningless. . . so I hated life and all its vanity (Ecc 2:17-18) Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. (16-18) So Solomon knew firsthand the result of being obsessed with wealth, power, and women What are the better returns of wisdom? long life, riches and honor, pleasant ways Those who embrace her (the wisdom of God) experience peace and the tree of life Again, we must understand these truths are principles of life, not guaranteed blessings Stephen and James were early martyrs, all the disciples died in persecution except John who was exiled, the Apostle Paul was executed, and Jesus suffered and died on the cross Yet we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1), and Jesus is exalted to the highest place and given the name that is above all names (Philippians 2:9 So ultimately Gods promise of peace and the tree of life holds true even for the martyrs But Gods life principle is that wisdom the knowledge of God leads to the tree of life Though Adam and Eve were banned from the tree of life because of disbelief and disobedience (Genesis 3:22), Gods grace for those who repent of sin and trust in Christ is made evident by His gift of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to embrace the tree of life