Make Friends with Wisdom

“Does not wisdom call?
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
On the heights beside the way,
    at the crossroads she takes her stand;
beside the gates in front of the town,
    at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
‘To you I call,
    my cry is to the children of man.
O simple ones, learn prudence;
    O fools, learn sense.
Hear, for I will speak noble things,
    and from my lips will come what is right,
for my mouth will utter truth…
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
They are all straight to him who understands,
    and right to those who find knowledge.
Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her…

“‘I have counsel and sound wisdom;
    I have insight; I have strength.
By me kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;
by me princes rule,
    and nobles, all who govern justly.
I love those who love me,
    and those who seek me diligently find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
    enduring wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
    and my yield than choice silver.'” Proverbs 8:1-11,14-19

She calls! She is everywhere available! Wisdom offers to all her noble, right, righteous, straight instruction. To own her is precious treasure and bestows invaluable honor. Her counsel, insight, and strength adorn justice and authority for those who diligently seek her. (Proverbs 1:20-21)

The voices of the world are loud, its trinkets enticing. The devil’s intent is to disguise unrighteousness and betrayal in glitz and glamour, offering a daily menu full of godless entertainment, advice, and expertise. Folly entices by promising freedom and requiring no restraint, while it actually ensnares and leads to destruction. We cannot neglect wisdom. Befriend her! The eternal wellspring found in fear of the Lord is ours for the taking. (Proverbs 2:6; 4:5-9; 8:33-35; 9:10)

We constantly expend time and emotion, and choose what occupies attention and heart. To develop discernment, we must keep wisdom our constant companion. She sets our mind clear and path straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

How will we better befriend her? Where do we entertain folly, spending inordinate time in self-indulgence, impermanence, worldly pursuits and their attending worldview? Do we listen more to popular opinions and mantras, or the word of God? Where have we made casualness, disorder, or frivolity our friend to the neglect of discipline and understanding, and how will we reorder our priorities? (Proverbs 10:23)

Behavior, mindset, and language reveal who our friends are. When we walk with the wise we grow wise, but friending fools is to our detriment. There is great blessing, pleasure, and peace in companionship with wisdom, but emptiness, anxiety, and waste with folly. Might wisdom be my best friend, and if so, what will I give today to nurture that friendship? (Proverbs 10:22-24; 13:20)

“Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me save that thou art.
Thou my best thought by day and by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true Word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.” ~Dallán Forgaill (6th C)

Amen!