WISDOM: THE TREASURE WORTH SEEKING

PROVERBS 3: 13
"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding."

The most valuable assets we should search to know as parishioners and Christians is "WISDOM"!
To search and find "wisdom" is a great treasure that everyone has to seek. And those who find to know have great and perfect gift which is very pertinent in all spheres and manners of life.

The Book of Proverbs is the source of learning material of "Wisdom" for mankind. The Book has been loaded with wise saying that teaches "Wisdom".

It has been classified as the poetry of Scripture. Written by Solomon and others, it is collection of moral and religious teaching in the form of sayings and proverbs. It covers a wide range of subjects-from spanking a child to ruling a Kingdom, but the verses are not arranged in topical order. Much of it has to do with practical, everyday concerns.

Proverbs begins with the reminder that: " The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and discipline"(Prov. 1:7), and goes on to deal with matters not only of religious morality, but also of common sense and good manners. Its many short sayings reveal the insights of ancient Israelite teachers into what a wise person will do in certain situations. Some of these concern family relations others business dealings. Some deal with matters of social etiquette in social relationships, and others with the need for self-control. Much is said about such qualities as humility, patience respect for poor and royalty to friends.

In our studies today as Parishioners, we shall consider the theme of Proverbs, which is "Wisdom," the right use of knowledge. This wisdom is more than an intellectual pursuit; it also involves devotion to the Lord. The wise person fear the Lord, trusts him, and seeks to obey his will. The wisdom described in Proverbs enables you to evaluate circumstances and people and to make the right decisions in life.

PROVERBS 2: 1- 5(KJV)
"My son if thou wilt receive my words and hide my commandments with thee;
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to
understanding;
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
If thou seekest her silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God."

The above verses begin the second of the my son passages and tie the concepts of wisdom and knowledge of God more closely together. One the one hand, wisdom is near and available. Yet it is not easy to embrace. Single-hearted devotion to discovering and doing what is right is implied in the action verbs: up, turn, apply, call out, cry aloud, look for and search for. We are instructed to do our part in seeking wisdom in order to reap the wonderful, promised results.
When a person seeks wisdom, he or she finds it in the fear of the lord, or the knowledge of God. God grants wisdom as a gift to those who truly seek it, and he bestows understanding and knowledge. Those who know God fear him.

PROVERBS 3: 1(KJV)

"My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments."

Like all parents, Wisdom wants the best for her children. She knows that that can come only through obedience to her teachings, which is another way of saying, obedience to sacred Scriptures. So here, she pleads with her son to remember with the mind and to obey with the heart.

VERSE 2

"For length of days,and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee."

This demonstrates the practical benefits of wisdom which includes: lack of anxiety, which brings peace to the soul, as well as vigorous physical health.

VERSE 3-4

"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man."

Love and faithfulness is an important pair of words in the Bible, describing God's character(Ps. 100:5) "For the LORD is good, his mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations."

VERSES 5-6

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths."

The words trust in the Lord echo the command of Deut. 6:5 to love God with all our being. The verb, trust, is complemented by the verb, lean. Trusting in God is conscious dependence on God, much like leaning on a tree for support. The idea is reinforced here bythe command to acknowledge Him, which means to be mindful of God and involve Him in the process of living. In doing so, a person finds time and time again that God smoothes out paths.

PROVERBS 3:13-18

VERSE 13: "Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding."

VERSE 14: "For the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold."

VERSE 15: "She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her."

VERSE 16: "Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] in her left hand riches and honour."

VERSE 17: "Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, and all her paths [are] peace."

VERSE 18: "She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her."

The Hebrews term blessed implies that God is truly pleased with the beloved one. The person who has discovered wisdom has found priceless treasure. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden and forbidden access to the tree of life(Gen. 3:22-24), but wisdom is another tree of life and will begin to restore the lost of happiness of Paradise.

In our Daily Businesses, Investors are always looking for pprofits on their financial investments. But Scripture tells us of an investment for which the profits outstrip anything that one could make in gold or silver- an investment in wisdom. Here, we are presented with series of choices between alternatives.
We remember the story in the Bible about the three people that were given Talents. Because of wisdom two people were able to invest wisely, while the other one could not, that is how valuable Wisdom is.

Why Proverbs in telling us that whatever we do, we should get wisdom? It is because wisdom yields benefits that go far beyond material comfort and convinience. Indeed blessed is the man who finds wisdom. Amen!!!