# 421 The Proverbs – ‘A manual for living’ (MSG). Proverbs 8:12-21. Wisdom’s Benefits

Have you ever been guilty of “shooting yourself in the foot”? Not literally of course, but metaphorically. The idiom means “to do [or say] something without intending, which spoils a situation for yourself. Causing difficulties for oneself or others.” https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/shoot-in-the-foot

Following such times, it could be said of this person that they “lacked wisdom!” There are many good reasons for gaining wisdom in life, and in order to prevent the above scenario is just one of them.

In Proverbs 8:12-21 we listen again to Lady Wisdom, this time as she describes wisdom’s benefits. She begins using “a mini-cluster of those weighty wisdom words that were introduced [earlier, in Bold font below].” (# 55)

¹² “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion…                                                                                                  

¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.

As we navigate life in this very dangerous world we live in, how desperately do we need to experience this type of wisdom, to not only prevent us from slipping up and ruining everything for ourselves and others, but to live life to the full enjoying all that God has planned for us.

The secret of this is what we were introduced to at the very beginning of Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord.” It is the very foundation stone of living a life of wisdom as it says here:

¹³ To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
    I hate pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.

Goldsworthy comments: “Wisdom always recognises that the ethical dimension of life [e.g., including the things wisdom says I hate…] had its ultimate foundation in the will and character of the Lord… Ethical systems without an absolute standard of right, goodness and truth [as outlined in God’s Word] cannot survive.” (# 53)

These positive traits mentioned earlier in verses 12 and 14 above can lead to success, which can be a good thing, unless, this success goes to our heads and we begin to believe it was all due to our own ability and wisdom. The result is called pride and arrogance! And, guess what, this is exactly what wisdom hates. Concerning this problem, Timothy Keller writes: “Without awe and wonder – fear before God – success can and usually does lead to a sense of superiority and hubris. Then the spiral begins. Pride moves you toward foolishness, such as overconfidence in your intuition, which ultimately results in bad decisions and downfall.

Moral character is to success as the safety is to a gun: It stops you from shooting yourself with it. ‘True wisdom is canny and resourceful,’ writes Kidner, and that is the reason that only ‘being rooted in the fear of the Lord [can make it] free from the faults of worldly wisdom.”  (# 51)

And this is the wisdom that is required, not just by the everyday person, but specially by those in leadership. Wisdom continues:

¹⁵ By me kings reign
    and rulers issue decrees that are just;
¹⁶ by me princes govern,
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.

In many countries there are impending elections on the agenda. If you are in one of those countries, pray that those voted in to places of authority are those who rule wisely and issue decrees that are just and right and beneficial to all citizens, not only of your nations but those of the other nations on the earth as well.

This wisdom is available to all, particularly to those who love me, says Lady Wisdom:

¹⁷ I love those who love me,
    and those who seek me find me.

These words remind us of the very words of God himself. For example: if… you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deut. 4:29) and you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

What greater reward is there than this, and yet there is even more!  Wisdom continues:

¹⁸ With me are riches and honor,
    enduring wealth and prosperity.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than fine gold;
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.
²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness,
    along the paths of justice,
²¹ bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.

Goldsworthy clarifies: These blessings are “Not the result of shrewd and unproductive speculation which characterises so much wealth in modern western society. It is linked with the ethical values of a wise and God-honouring life.” (# 53)

In conclusion, Keller writes: “The wise are practical. Yet true wisdom still sees success as only a by-product – not the main goal. Wisdom brings enduring wealth – a Hebrew term that means an inner richness of joy and divine favor that is better than fine gold. Perhaps it would be best to say that real wisdom tends towards prosperity, but prosperity itself is never the wise man’s ultimate goal. The wise do what they do not because it is satisfying or because it works but because it is right and loving to God and his creation. Success may come or not – but that is not the point.” (# 51)

Jesus said: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things [including wisdom] will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)