Wisdom on Main Street
Opening Prayer
Lord, open my heart and my mind to Your perfect wisdom. And train my will to obey with eagerness.
Read Proverbs 8:1-21
[1] Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? [2] At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; [3] beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: [4] “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. [5] You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. [6] Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. [7] My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. [8] All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. [9] To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. [10] Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, [11] for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. [12] “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. [13] To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. [14] Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. [15] By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; [16] by me princes govern, and nobles-all who rule on earth. [17] I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. [18] With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. [19] My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. [20] I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, [21] bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. 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 does wisdom have to say?The way in which wisdom is personified in this passage will shape not only this reading but also the readings for the next three days. It takes the form of a woman–Lady Wisdom–addressing us directly as an expression of God’s own truth. Where does Wisdom first appear? Beside the highways and at the city gates (2,3). (Today’s parallel would be in our shopping malls or along our main streets.) In public settings she calls out to any who will hear her. She invites us to invest our wealth, our time, and our energy in attending to her voice and following her ways. Given a choice between gold, silver, or jewels, and her instruction, she argues that there’s no real contest (10,11). Her wisdom is so much more valuable and has an enduring worth (18,19). Just such a call is heard from the lips of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He says, why worry about what we will eat or drink or where work will come from? God knows we need all of these things (cf. Matt. 6:19-21,25-34).
Apply
What evidence is there in your life that you are hearing and heeding God’s wisdom?
Closing prayer
God, help me to value Your truth above all the fading treasures of this world.
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