Wisdom, suggests the book of Proverbs, is prized above all things. And wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. Therefore, the wisest thing one can do is to trust and honor God.
And trusting and honoring God, according to Proverbs 3, "not only delivers one from evil, but promises certain rewards" (Ryrie Study notes). Among them: Longevity and peace (v. 1-2) Favor with God and man (v. 3-4) Health (v. 7-8)
Prosperity (v. 9-10) Pretty good stuff. Stuff we all like, and seek hard after. Barns filled with plenty, length of days, refreshment to your bones. And yet...
The section of Proverbs 3 that we know, love, cherish, cling to, and quote most often is the part that promises not peace, not health, not abundance. It is the part that promises...guidance. "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths."
Let's not miss that. In this promise-rich poriton of scripture, the part we people cite more often than the others is the part about trusting God more than ourselves so that in our "ways" and "paths," we will know which way to go. We will know what to do. We will get there directly. We will be able to read the signposts planted by the Almighty. The child of God longs for and receives many gifts when he or she receives wisdom. Is it possible that the most highly prized among them is a highly-tuned sense of spiritual direction?
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