Wisdom ways of pleasantness

“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success
    in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
    and refreshment to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
then your barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will be bursting with wine.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
    as a father the son in whom he delights.

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than gold.
She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding he established the heavens;
by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
    and the clouds drop down the dew.” Proverbs 3:3-20

Solomon knew well the value and joys of wisdom, as well as the sorrows when it was ignored or overshadowed. His words to his son enumerated reminders when weighing choices and the rewards of making wise ones. Crooked paths, evil, greed, and discounting God’s reproof would not yield the order, gain, understanding, peace, and overall blessedness that wisdom would. Choose God’s ways for fullness and pleasantness of life!

There is much in every corner of the world that can bring consternation, stress, and sadness. Cities are rife with risk and streets are in ruin. Tribal violence escalates, divisions widen, dreams fade, and hopes decay. In any consideration and conflict, there is the heavy, the wrong, the ominous, the down side. Closer to home, relationships can be fraught with dissension or bitterness, work and responsibilities with hard toil, pressure, and confusion.

But wisdom displays her wares in all these places. She pursues us in every conundrum and temptation that we might avail ourselves of her goodness and treasure. She offers pleasantness amidst life’s pain from being rooted in truth and the steadfastness of an unchanging God. Do we respond to her appeals and take advantage of her better, refreshing, life-giving ways? Are we willing to search amidst our mess to find her favors? When are we seeking her source in Scripture? (Proverbs 1:20-23; 2:1-15)

When we have enjoyed the gain of wisdom, and begin to breathe her graces and practice her rhythms, what fruit are we bearing in the places we influence? How readily do we share wisdom learned through hardship or long obedience? With whom can we delight in God’s faithful provision in challenging decisions? Where can we pass along the treasure and gain God has so graciously given?

Father, make me wise, and generous with wisdom’s gifts to spread pleasantness in harsh and needy places.