February 27 – Exalting Wisdom (Proverbs 4:1-9)

“Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.”(Proverbs 4:8)

IN WORD:
We all long for glory & honor. It is a longing built into us by a Creator whose image we bear and who Himself is worthy of all glory & honor. And there is, in fact, a way in this world that we can live to receive a crown. But it is not the way most people think.
Human instinct tells us to seek a crown by exalting ourselves. It prompts us to climb to the top of the ladder — socially, professionally, emotionally, and even spiritually. It is all about attainment. Godly wisdom, on the other hand, tells us to seek a crown by embracing understanding. It prompts us to become humble and self-aware, submitting to a higher Authority and becoming like Him. It has little to do with achieving; it is all about character.
Human striving is an interesting dynamic. When we seek self, we lose self. When we seek God, we gain God and self. And with God, all of His blessings are included. Jesus said it well: “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35).
A substantial part of seeking God is seeking His wisdom. Those who want to benefit from His blessings but do not care to build their lives on His truth are fooling themselves. They are asking for an impossibility, like the benefit of good health without the wisdom of a good diet and exercise, or the benefit of passing a course without doing the homework. God has not constructed life to work that way. There is blessing in building on His truth.

IN DEED:
Whose wisdom forms the foundation of your life? Is it your own? A family member or friend? The collective voice of our culture? If so, why? With all of God’s wisdom available to us, why build on lesser material? Seek God’s wisdom. Esteem it and embrace it, and you will be crowned with honor by the only One whose opinion matters.

“If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.” -D. L. Moody-