S141P2 – More precious than gold: Godly wisdom

Pro. 3:13-18

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.  She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

The man had a mind for business, and he thought himself wise.  He had built himself up from being a landlord of one tenant to being the largest property owner in town.  In fact, people often joked that he owned the town.  He was very proud of his accomplishments, even if only the few people in that community knew who he was.  From his perspective, he had made it, and he thought that everyone else found him to be as wise as he believed he was.  After all, he could not have built all of that had he been a fool.  The problem was that his wisdom was merely worldly wisdom, all about business and finding a way to end up on top.  All it brought him was temporary riches and the ire of a community that could not trust him.
Wisdom comes in two varieties.  One follows the world’s standards, and the other follows God’s.  When the scriptures direct us to seek after wisdom, we are to act in a way that is spiritually wise.  This directs us to make decisions that benefit God’s kingdom and promote his will.  Our decisions also should promote the spiritual betterment of ourselves and the Church at large.  One can be wise in this world without being wise in his eyes.  One also can be wise in this world according to the wisdom of God.  The differences are the source of our wisdom and the end to which we practice it.  True wisdom will lead us to the practice of his righteousness for the benefit of the kingdom. 
We will face times when we are tempted to operate in worldly widsom because it makes things a little easier or helps us get ahead.  The world has a different standard of what is right, and it often focuses on the promotion of self.  We cannot be tricked into forsaking the wisdom of God because it appears that we are missing out on something in this world when we follow it.  What we might gain here from living according to worldly wisdom cannot compare to what we will receive now and then when we live by Godly wisdom.  Father, we thank You now for the spiritual fruit we will bear when we are wise according to your standard.