Day 153: The pitch for Wisdom

Today's Reading: Proverbs 1-3

The book of Proverbs has been attributed to Solomon, the one to whom God gave wisdom. The book is divided into 31 chapters, a chapter to be read each day of the month. Many read these chapters over and over as a spiritual discipline, beginning each first day of the month with chapter one and continuing until starting over the next month.

Wisdom.

Not just knowledge, not just smarts, not even just common sense, but all of these rolled up along with morality, ethics and the special ingredient: the fear of the LORD.

According to the book of Proverbs, Wisdom is the most desirable quest, even ranking above Love.

Shocking.

But maybe one cannot recognize true love unless one is wise.

This book of Proverbs begins with the sales pitch for Wisdom. It will help us get along with our parents. It will help us choose our friends. It will keep us out of trouble and put our feet onto the path of true prosperity and long life.

I wonder what it would be like if we spent the pre-adolescent years of our children, drumming the book of Proverbs into their brains. Would it change their precarious teenage years?

I wonder what it would be like if we told employees, "Our employee handbook is the book of Proverbs."

I wonder what it would be like if we held our politicians, teachers, preachers, lawyers--all the professionals--to the wisdom of Proverbs.

"Do any of you want wisdom?" the author of James asks. "Ask God, and God will give generously to anyone who asks."

Quite the sales pitch, don't you think?

Here's to the next couple days in God's Word.