We just wrapped up a teaching series on parenting. During this series we used King Solomon’s words found in Proverbs 24:3 as our foundational scripture.
Proverbs 24:3 -“Ahouse is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding…”
Today I was reading Proverbs chapter 3. Verses 13-18 jumped out at me because, here too, King Solomon writes about this wisdom and understanding. King Solomon does so in a interesting way. King Solomon writes about wisdom and understanding as if they are a woman that every man should chase.
Read this with me.
Proverbs 13-18 -“Happyis a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold. She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire can equal her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy.”
Let’s take a closer look at this passage. Notice the first word,“Happy.” That is what people are looking for. Everyone wants to be happy. Almost everything a person does is because they hope it brings happiness. Being happy is not a sin. Being happy is not wrong. However, we can sin and we can be wrong in the ways we pursue being happy. Don’t lose heart, King Solomon tells us how we can pursue being happy and not sin. Let’s start in Proverbs 3:13.
“Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding…”
Wisdom- knowing the right thing +doing the right thing.
Understanding- you get“it”,“it”makes sense.
So you want to be happy. Let me help you. Let’s apply the definitions to the two words above to Proverbs 3:13.
Proverbs 3:13 -“Youwill be happy when you know and do the right thing and you keep doing the right thing because it just makes sense.”(MattMiller Version)
Next, King Solomon talks about how profitable“she”is. Then King Solomon shares what“she”is holding in her hands.
Proverbs 3:16-”Longlife is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor.”
How do those things sound? I like the things“she”holds. But what about her personality? What is“she”like to hang out with?
Proverbs 3:17 -“Herways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy.”
I’m really starting to like this girl! God is so very smart. God made wisdom and understanding very very attractive.
I hope today you will choose wisdom and understanding on your pursuit to being happy. If you’re thinking,“Wheredo I start? Where do I find this“wisdomand understanding?” I want to encourage you to talk to a friend of mine named James. I know what James will tell you.
James 1:5 -“Nowif any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God - who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly - and it will be given to him.”
Ask God. Start there. When He reveals to you the right thing…Do the right thing. Then, do it again.
Stay blessed,
Pastor Matt