Today’s scripture: Proverbs 3:13-20 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Vivian Wyatt):
The author of Proverbs places a high value on wisdom in this passage. Not only did he (I assume it was a male since most writers were men during this time) give wisdom a female personification (which I think shows a great deal of wisdom on his part) but he could not stop talking about how amazing she was. She brings happiness; she profits one more than gold or silver; she possesses long life and riches; and if you follow her paths you will find pleasantry and peace.
However, the author is a little enigmatic when it comes explaining how one acquires wisdom. One has to find her; then all of these wonderful things will happen. I thought about this. . . how does one find wisdom? Even though Proverbs 1 says she is yelling for our attention in the streets, I have found wisdom to be more taciturn than that. I usually find wisdom after I’ve made a mistake. For example, when I tried to make waffles for the first time and put too much batter in the waffle iron, wisdom came when the batter was dripping down the side of the waffle iron.
I’ve also found wisdom by listening to people whose opinions I trust. Sometime when I’m too close to a situation, or emotions are involved, I cannot see the issue clearly. So listening to trusted confidants clarifies the problem. I have found wisdom by reading, and studying. I have found wisdom by acknowledging that wisdom comes from God and then asking God for it. Hmmm. . . Maybe wisdom is easier to find than I first suspected.
Perhaps, the problem is with me. Perhaps I’m so sure of my own “rightness” that I can’t see wisdom when she’s right there in front of me, yelling for my attention. Perhaps I’m not willing to take the time or make the effort to do the necessary research. Perhaps I’m too stubborn to bend my knee and ask God. But if having wisdom is as beneficial as the writer of Proverbs suggests — and I’m quite sure that it is — then it is well worth it to make the effort to seek wisdom. . . for if we seek her, we just might find her.
Thought for the day: What can I do today to seek wisdom?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.