Costly Wisdom
Opening Prayer
Take a moment to confess before God and seek his forgiveness. Then, thank him as you prepare to read his Word.
Read Proverbs 3:1-18
[1] My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, [2] for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. [3] Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. [4] Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. [5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; [6] in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. [7] Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. [8] This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. [9] Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; [10] then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. [11] My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, [12] because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. [13] Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, [14] for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. [15] She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. [16] Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. [17] Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. [18] She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What are some reasons given here to seek God's wisdom?Some things are worth sacrificing for. We save for vacations or special treats. We train for hours to win the race or the game. Getting wisdom demands that sort of commitment, a fixed determination to go God’s way in every situation (5,6). All our decisions are made in reference to him and his wisdom which we find in the Bible and in Jesus. This will mean that we give up some other things which look attractive. We honor God with our money (9,10). This can be quite hard. Our world values people by what they have rather than what they are. God calls us to hold our possessions lightly and to recognize that all that we have comes from him. We don’t give him what’s left over after we have spent what we want on ourselves. We give to him first. We give him the best. We also submit to God’s discipline (11,12). Discipline is not a popular idea today, probably because we don’t understand it. In the Olympics, all those who competed put themselves through punishing training programs. That’s what discipline is: training ourselves so that we can raise our standards. That’s why God’s discipline should be welcomed.
Apply
Renew your commitment to God now. What are some practical ways in which that commitment can be worked out?
Closing prayer
Lord, You know that sacrifice and discipline don’t come easy to me. Help me practice them where it really counts.
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