Another Voice, Another Choice

Proverbs 8:1-11

There is always another voice calling to us when temptation is near. It is the voice of wisdom. In chapter seven we read about a young man, a man who lacked wisdom, was led into temptation. He ended up sacrificing everything.

It is no coincidence that these verses follow those of chapter seven. There is another voice beside the seductive woman that calls to this young man. This voice will save him from death, if he will but listen.

Wisdom stands at the crossroads of life, always easily found (vv2-3). Unlike the temptation that moves everywhere (7:11-12), wisdom stays at the important junctures in life. When you need to make a decision, “Do I do this or that?” wisdom will be one of the choices.

Unlike the temptation, which is a private matter, the woman grabbing the foolish young man and talking just to him (7:13), wisdom calls out for everyone to hear. There is no need for a dark street, no need for hushed tones, nothing to cower in shame about. The right choice always presents itself. And for most people the right choice is clearly seen, but easily rejected.

The value of wisdom is like that of gold and precious jewels. No matter how unsteady the economy becomes, certain things will always have value. Wisdom is one of those things. An old fool is still a fool! An old drunk is still a drunk. An old cheating spouse is still a cheating spouse. Old liar, liar. Old thief, thief. You get the idea.

Wisdom by contrast gets better with age. Its value goes up rather than down. And we can choose it today and its value in our lives will last. Good choices gain strength while foolish choices just repeat themselves like a bad stomach virus. No matter what you do, you can’t get rid of the taste because the effects of foolishness keep rising and making their presence known.

And it really is up to our choices in each moment. Every time we come to a crossroad we must choose wisdom among the many options. It might not be the glitziest option, but it is the one with the greatest value and the one with no “under water” potential.

Economic Downturn

Proverbs 3:13-18

Silver and Gold. You must have heard the many ads telling us the virtue of owning it because its value never goes down. When I was young, gold was $32 an ounce. Now it is over $1500 an ounce. If only I had bought it when it was $32! But would I be rich? What does a hungry person need more, gold or food?

In today’s proverbs, wisdom’s value is compared to both gold and silver. Wisdom is more valuable than both. If the money you have in your bank account gets seized by the government, as is happening in Cyprus, what would you do? For many, their character would emerge and anarchy would erupt. I don’t want to scare you, but it would get very messy.

Verse sixteen tells of the rewards of wisdom in contrast to the value of gold and silver. Wisdom will bring long life. Why is this so? I know for me personally, money gets my blood pressure rising. There have been times in my life when money was very tight, when finding a little cash for the next meal seemed out of reach. We even had food stamps for a short period of time. When I think about retirement, and the impending drop in disposable income, I can feel stress rising. And stress can kill.

So for me, I am working hard at learning to trust Him with that future. It is very peaceful when I leave that future in His hands. Verse seventeen says peace and wisdom walk the same roads. If I am walking in wisdom, peace will be there as well. I am learning to quiet my body when I feel it go into panic mode. I turn my thoughts to His care and provision.

Wisdom will be the food that gives us life, like the tree of life found in the Garden of Eden, and that tree in heaven, always bearing fruit year round. Wisdom continues to nourish.

So, I haven’t bought gold. I haven’t stocked up on survival food. I don’t own a working gun and I haven’t purchased a safe. Perhaps I am not being wise. Perhaps I am investing in other ways, ways that will last into eternity. Missions giving will span the divide of death, but gold won’t.