Godly Choices

Proverbs 3:15 "She (wisdom) is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her." NKJV


We find ourselves here looking at a proverb by Solomon in which he talks about the value of wisdom. It is nestled in a series of proverbs on wisdom where he wants to show us that wisdom and the attainment of it is a most worthy pursuit in our lives. The previous verses talk about the blessings that come from finding wisdom and gaining understanding. The value of having wisdom is greater than silver or gold, and now, in this verse, even better than rubies, or jewels. None of these valuables, or anything else we can desire will compare to the gift of wisdom. That is a bold statement. One that requires further investigation. I desire many things in my life: health, to walk with God, a blessed marriage, good friends, happy children, to have an impact in my world for Christ, and many others. Yet he claims none of these can compare with wisdom.

I believe that Solomon here talks to all of us who run after stuff in order to fill the hole that the Spirit left in us when we drifted away from God. Pascal, the French scientist, said that we were all born with a God shaped vacuum in our lives that only He can fill. We run after all manners of desires and try to fill the emptiness inside us where God belongs. Yet ultimately none of these things can satisfy and end the longing for meaning and purpose, peace of soul and mind. Wisdom, the application of God's truths in our lives, Godly discernment in our daily walk, will lead us to a place where we chose the things that put God back where He belongs: on the throne of our hearts. Wisdom from on high will allow us to make choices that honor God and glorify Him and thus keep us walking close to Him every day. Sin will separate us from the Lord and His peace in our lives. It grieves the Holy Spirit and He will withdraw for He cannot be in the presence of it. He is holy. But when we walk in wisdom, we continuously make the kind of choices that bless God and thus allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with the power He has for us. Like Enoch, we can walk with God so closely that the lines between heaven and earth will become blurred.

O how I long for a time when I no longer make those stupid decisions that haunt me afterwards. I can think of countless example of choices in my life where I looked to the flesh and not God in deciding what to do. And I am still paying the price. The path of destruction is wide and there are many bodies strewn about in the wake of my life. Like many a war veteran I still carry around the scars from all those times I went down the wrong path and had to face the consequences of my actions. While I am washed white as snow as a Cristian, God still requires me to pay the price of my actions, for we have a just God that is always fair in his judgements. As I grow in my Christian walk, and my wisdom increases, there are far fewer selfish acts, and I long for the day that I can be with Jesus, never again to be separated from Him because of my foolish decisions. Therefore to desire wisdom is to desire walking close to God and there truly is no more worthwhile treasure to attain in all the world.

Application
Today, I will consciously pray to God before every decision I make. I will ask for His wisdom to fill me and for Him to show me the better way.