Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
Proverbs 3:13-14
When I was a boy, I had one desire that consumed my ever-waking moment: to play tennis. I would do anything to get to a tennis court to play with anyone and everyone willing to play. There were times when I would ride my bike many miles to get to the local tennis club, and I would spend my entire day there only to repeat the route home at the end of it. Yet, nothing would deter me from playing the game.
The Scriptures present the benefit of pursuing wisdom in this way. It is something that must be sought with passion and desire. Many things compete for our attention in our lives. Most of them are worthless when compared to our eternal souls. Yet, many professing Christians spend their ever-waking moments pursuing useless things. Sure, there are things we must do each day, and we must do them to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:33). We must work. We must tend to the needs of our families. We must engage our minds in those things that the preacher says are “vanity of vanities.” It is our lot in this world. At the same time, we must pursue wisdom and understanding with an understanding that finding them is beyond measure, for it will frame all the other things we do daily. A few observations from the above-cited verse:
First, there is a blessing that comes to one who finds wisdom. Of course, that implies that one is seeking it in the first place. Most of us have lost something from time to time. How many of us have turned the living room upside down, seeking that allusive remote (usually found under the cushions of the couch)? Nothing deters us from seeking it until we find it. Solomon tells us that we must seek wisdom in this way. We seek it by praying for it (Jas. 1:5-8). We seek it by diligently reading the Word of God, meditating on its truths and precepts, for that is where we find the source of the eternal mind of the infinitely wise God. God is pleased to give it to us when we seek it this way. That is, he is pleased to bless us. Perhaps we do not find wisdom because we do not treasure it as we should. We have many treasures in our lives. Those things we often find ourselves doing or dwelling upon are often our treasures. Store up treasures in heaven by seeking God’s wisdom. Where your treasure is, that is where your heart is, also.
Second, the gain from this pursuit cannot be measured. We all need money to live in this world. It is difficult to exist without it. We need it to pay our bills, buy our food, send off that dreaded tax payment, or some other necessity of life. We work hard to earn money to satisfy our needs (and wants). Yet, God’s Word tells us plainly that the price of wisdom cannot be measured. The profit of it is beyond a price gun that says, “This is how much the item costs.” No. The wisdom from God is immeasurable in price. The problem, often, for many of us is that we do not seriously consider that simple truth. The problem is that we do not believe it.
We need to ask: “Would I be willing to trade all the money in the world for the great blessing and benefit that comes from securing God’s wisdom and understanding? If the answer is yes, what tangible proofs are there that you take seriously? For instance, one of the means by which God’s wisdom is poured into the heart and mind of the one seeking it is through the Word of God preached each Lord’s Day. We say we desire the wisdom of God, but yet absent ourselves from the means God uses to dispense it. Are we zealously attending to the worship of God? What about prayer? Again, if one says they desire it, do you pray for it? Do we seek the mind of God in prayer for the wisdom that can only come from him? If we are not praying for it, we cannot rightly say we desire it. Are we laboring in God’s Word daily to mine the gold and silver in it? One Bible teacher says, “God does not reveal the deep treasures of his Word to lazy people.” He’s right. Are we diligently pursuing the God of heaven for the wisdom that is beyond price?
Yes, we all sin in many ways. Without question, we can all say with one voice: I can always do better in these areas. Indeed. That is our plight in this fallen world. Therefore, resolve before the God of heaven to pursue wisdom by saying, “Father, please help me to desire your Word and wisdom found therein. Grant to me a willing Spirit for these things.” As you prayerfully ask, he will faithfully give. Pursue wisdom! It is worth more than all the gold and silver this fleeting world can offer.
