When wisdom walks into your life, she carries with her length of days, riches and honor. These are the promised results of attaining wisdom in ones life. In other words the writer states that if we find wisdom and gain understanding of the things of God, if we desire to know God's way of life more than anything else in our lives, she (wisdom) will accompany us on our journey here on earth and bring with her the blessings of a long life, riches and honor. These benefits should not be the object of our desire - that is reserved for God - but naturally will be the byproducts of our efforts to walk with God. In other words, if I only want to walk with God because I hope to gain riches and honor, I will be waiting a long time for the rewards. But if I am willing to give up any hope of riches and honor and fully devote myself to the study of God's Word, along with a fulfilled life I will also reap the benefits of a long life, a rich and fulfilled existence, and a place of respect and honor amongst my peers. God's counsel, by design, will lead me to all that is good and I will be blessed beyond measure. The Psalmist says that
"[the blessed man's] delight is in the law of the LORD,
and in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that brings forth its fruit in its season,
whose leaf also shall not wither;
and whatever he does shall prosper." (Psalm 1:2-3)
I have attempted many projects and tried to succeed in many areas in my life, but have to admit that most of the time the success has been marginal at best. It is a source of great frustration for me that no matter how much I apply myself, I just cannot produce the kind of results I long for. I have to admit that I am a perfectionist and usually set the standard so high that I cannot ever reach it. But is that wrong? Is it utopian thinking to want to attain perfection? Is it foolishness to reach for the stars? I also have to confess that I am a romantic and that my heart yearns for such things as true love, a sunset on the beach, a world without evil, and living in perfect harmony. The mistake in my thinking all along has not been that I am living in a silly dream world, but rather that I failed to recognize the effect of sin on this world. There once was perfection in God's creation and sin destroyed it. When Adam gave into the temptation of the devil it was all over until another Adam came to this world and dealt with sin once and for all. His name was Jesus and He offered himself up as a perfect substitute for the payment that had to be made to deal with deadly sin. It is because of Jesus that I can hope to see a perfect world one day and in the meantime can reap the benefits of a life spent learning and obeying His heavenly instructions.
Application
When I get discouraged today because of my failure to live up to my expectations once again, I need to confess that sin before God and repent. Like Paul, I need to "press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:14). I will read Romans 8 three times tonight.
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