If you  haven’t had a chance to read this week’s chapter – we’ve provided the following video for your convenience.  It’s good to hear the Word of God read because the Bible promises that “faith comes by hearing the Word of God.”

This chapter continues its focus on seeking and obtaining wisdom.  Those who find wisdom have understanding; they have discretion; they are prudent.  But most of all they find life and riches.

If wisdom is so attractive and valuable, why is it we don’t pursue it more diligently?  Why is it we choose to drift along rather than go after her as if looking for a rich treasure?  There are as many reasons why we don’t as there are reasons as to why we should.

10 Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.

Most Americans are quite familiar with the Stock Market.  Even more so if you have invested in it by buying shares in a company you believe will succeed.  The Bible tells us we have a vested interest in obtaining wisdom.  God is guaranteeing us that if we invest in wisdom, we will obtain great riches.  How many would buy into a stock program if they were guaranteed to become rich as a result?  The answer is obvious.  The gates couldn’t hold back the number of people rushing to buy in.

Photo Credit: moneysense.ca

If the Bible so clearly tells us wisdom is by far better than riches and jewels, shouldn’t we take a close look at our lives and our marriages to see how much wisdom is there?  The easiest way to know is to evaluate our obedience to the Word we’ve already heard.

Photo Credit: The Bread Line

Week after week Christians sit in church buildings all over the world and hear the Word of God preached, taught and exhorted.  Some even take notes to help them remember what they’ve heard.  But what happens on Monday?  Do we take to heart the message and seek to apply it to our lives?  Do we purpose to go after a godly marriage as defined by the Bible?

Read the final words of this chapter and notice how many words tell us what we need to do to apply wisdom to our lives:

32 “And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord.

It is possible to become wise, but it isn’t a get rich quick scheme.  It is paid to us as we daily seek it, watch and listen for it, then we will find it.  Little by little, day after day, year after year we will discover we aren’t the same as we used to be.  Wisdom replaces folly and the deposit pays out with rich dividends not only to us, but most importantly to those who are coming behind us.