WISDOM’S CONDITIONAL LOVE
Proverbs 8:17-19 NKJV
17 I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
This is an intriguing proverb. Wisdom, personified as female, is speaking the entire time. The wisdom that is speaking is God’s wisdom not man’s wisdom. And wisdom is describing some of her attributes, such as hating evil, speaking excellent things and truth. Another fascinating thing about this chapter is wisdom laying claim to being with God before He ever founded the earth.
Wisdom also describes how to obtain her. She is available, but not to everyone. Our verses today show some of the upside of wisdom, but also the blunt truth of who can obtain wisdom. Wisdom declares, “I love those who love me.” This tells us that we must have a heart for God’s wisdom, or it will elude us. Unlike God’s unconditional love for mankind, wisdom only comes to those who love wisdom. God loves mankind whether they love Him or not. Of course, God’s love has to be received, but we don’t have to pursue God’s love. Wisdom is another story. Because wisdom says that those who seek her diligently will find her. Evidently, the wisdom of God is not going to jump on us regardless of what we do on our part.
Contrast God’s wisdom with His mercy. God has been merciful to us when we did not deserve it. We deserved punishment but got mercy. Wisdom, on the other hand, will not come to us if we choose to ignore her. Those who seek will find, so those who do not seek will not find.
But wisdom is worth seeking after. Wisdom unabashedly declares that riches and honor are with her, enduring riches and right living before God. This is counter to a culture that is pursuing riches and honor. Wisdom produces riches and honor. But the pursuit of riches and honor does not always turn out well.
Wisdom’s fruit, what wisdom produces in our lives, is better than money. The verse says gold, but gold was the standard currency of that day. Before credit cards and cash, there was gold, silver, precious stones, and rare spices that served as currency. Wisdom can produce in our lives what is more valuable than money. We have heard of throwing money at a problem, but that strategy doesn’t always work. Applying God’s wisdom to a problem is more effective than money.
APPLICATION
James said that if we lack wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously. God gives wisdom to those who ask Him and then begin to seek for His wisdom. We can do that by spending quiet time in prayer and time in God’s Word. And when we find God’s wisdom, it solves so many problems and answers so many questions.
We need God’s wisdom for our relationships, families, careers, and personal growth. Wisdom will not fall on us, but if we pursue it, if we seek it, we will find it. And we’ll be glad we did.
PRAYER
Lord, I love Your wisdom. Thank You for making Your timeless wisdom available to me.