Proverbs 3:13-15 "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof of fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her."
Only God is wise. Consider the wisdom of God in the scripture above. God made silver and gold and rubies when He made the earth. After the fall, He moved men to greatly desire these things. In time God inspired Solomon to pen this proverb. God did all this according to his purpose for His glory. How? While silver, gold, rubies and the desires of the flesh blind the covetous hearts of some from ever seeing the wisdom of God, God uses the very same treasure to open the eyes of others to the greater worth of wisdom and understanding. "The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew." (Pro. 3:19,20)
Christ is wisdom. He says, "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am
understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth…I lead
in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that I may
cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures…I
was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was…and
I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him…blessed is the man
that hears me…for whoso finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor of
the Lord. But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate
me love death." (Proverbs 8:14-36)
The natural man is not wise. The natural man calls his own ignorance wisdom
and his vain imagination understanding. In his blindness he will cling to his
own knowledge until the day when God makes him to confess Jesus Christ to be
Lord of Lords. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes…"
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are
the ways of death." "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous
man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon
him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not
your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens
are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts." (Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs
14:12, Isaiah 55:7-9)
The spiritual man is made wise. If a man believes the truth of God he does so
because God has given him a new heart. The believer praises God for the abundant
grace bestowed upon him in Christ before the world was made. The true child
of God marvels that Christ Jesus humbled himself and became a man to take the
place of his sheep to present them holy and without blame to God. A saved man
rejoices that he has received the Spirit of God even the mind of Christ that
we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. The believer does
not glory in his faith nor his conduct but gives all glory and honor to God-for
it is God who chose dead sinners, Christ who redeemed dead sinners, the Holy
Ghost who makes dead sinners live and renews us daily. (I Corinthians 1:30-31,
2:12-16)
The Lord says "…everyone that is called by my name…I have
created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth
the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears…ye are my
witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know
and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed,
neither shall there be after me." (Isaiah 43:
1-13)
Happy, indeed, is that man who finds wisdom and understanding. "Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge." (Proverbs 23:12)
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