Give me wisdom, or give me …
by Pastor Peter Bean
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For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her (Proverbs 8:11).
Wisdom is more precious than rubies. Nothing you could want is equal to it, and nothing you could desire can compare with her (wisdom).
I don’t know much about rubies. But obviously, they are precious, valuable, expensive and liked! They also seem to be held in very high esteem by the writer’s audience. The writer had also previously referred to teachings and knowledge being better than silver and gold. Perhaps the community of listeners were obsessed with assets, prosperity and riches!
Yet, it is stated clearly: wisdom is more precious. And one might presume more valuable, worth more and quite beneficial. If you read through Proverbs 8 until verse 22, you will also read that wisdom has many gifts associated with this gift itself.
Knowledge, good sense, understanding, power, wealth, justice, and even accompanying the Lord is mentioned at different times. Who wouldn’t want wisdom? And yet, some prefer rubies or silver or gold.
What do you want or desire in your life? How do these wants and desires – the goods you have, the things you own – compare with wisdom? Do any of the things you listed include the above gifts?
It’s okay to have wants and desires in our lives. None of us is immune to that way of thinking. And goods and possessions are important for our way of living and offer ways to help others.
But if we are freely offered something better, which will benefit us and all we come into contact with, is it not worth taking up that offer?
When we read verse 22 carefully, it would seem that if we practise wisdom and its associated gifts – knowledge, good sense, understanding, (beneficial) power, (shared) wealth, justice – we are walking with the Lord. We are accompanied by the Beloved every moment of our life.
Lord of life, let me share in your wisdom, and in turn, share all your gifts with others. Amen.
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