She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
Proverbs 8:17 NKJ
I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
This chapter of the Proverbs is unusual because, for the entire chapter, wisdom is speaking. And wisdom is speaking in the first person as a female. I am not sure why wisdom is personified as a woman, but I am in no position to argue. One reason may be found in our verse for today. Wisdom will not track you down. Wisdom must be pursued.
Admittedly, I grew up in a different era. I was raised that if I wanted to date a girl, I must be the one to do the asking. I passed that along to both of my sons. If a girl was worth dating, then it was worth making an effort to pursue her. I also kept that same philosophy with my daughter. My message to her was that if a guy was interested in her, let him make the first move. Now I can hear the cries of old school antiquity and out-of-date dude. However, I am totally unmoved by that, and the wisdom of Proverbs chapter eight backs me up.
Wisdom declares that she loves those who love her. Now, if you are thinking that’s not God’s love, you are correct. God first loved us, and His love is unconditional—wisdom, not so much. Wisdom is not unconditional. God’s wisdom is accessible but must be pursued. And wisdom goes on to declare that those who seek her diligently will find her. Wisdom did not say she readily jumps into the arms of those who don’t care. It’s those who seek that find.
We shouldn’t be surprised. We know that if you never care about hearing God’s Word or picking up a Bible and reading, you are not going to be full of God’s wisdom. Oh, you may have a high IQ, but it does not mean you have God’s wisdom. You may have advanced degrees, but still not grasp God’s wisdom. And this is actually good news. This means God’s wisdom is available to anyone who has a heart to pursue it.
And God’s wisdom is valuable. Wisdom is more precious than rubies. Wisdom has counsel and strength. Wisdom comes with riches and honor. Wisdom is more profitable than gold and refined silver. Wisdom has no downside. And wisdom declares that blessed are the ones who listen, watch, and wait daily for her. Wisdom is not shy about proclaiming her value, and whoever finds wisdom finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.
I love wisdom, and as I pursue wisdom in my daily time with the Lord, reading, praying, and meditating on Scripture, wisdom loves me. And I am retraining myself to ask the Lord, what is Your wisdom for the situations and challenges I face?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your wisdom that You have made accessible to me. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, my teacher who guides me into all Your truth and teaches me Your wisdom. I love You and the wisdom that comes from you.