13 Happy are those who find wisdom
and those who gain understanding.
14 Her profit is better than silver,
and her gain better than gold.
15 Her value exceeds pearls;
all you desire can’t compare with her.
16 In her right hand is a long life;
in her left are wealth and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant;
all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who hold her tight are happy.
Reflection
Our world values success, wealth and power as the pinnacle of achievement. We look up to billionaires, follow movie stars and influencers and aspire to be on the side of those with political power. And it’s easy to see why people are attracted to the allure of this type of life. But following the world comes with the ultimate high price. Jesus asks us in Mark 8:36 (NIV), “What good is it for a person to gain the whole world and forfeit their soul?” It may look like a happy life on the surface, but it’s not.
In our own lives, there are many things that we consider priceless treasures, our loved ones, our friends, and our health. But our most priceless treasure of all, is our relationship with God. Yet for many people, who have not experienced God’s love in their lives, that relationship remains buried treasure.
This passage from Proverbs teaches us to seek the gift of God’s divine wisdom. God’s wisdom is more priceless than silver, gold or pearls. Wisdom isn’t buried treasure, but a living treasure, a “tree of life” that blesses us, guides us, helps us to discern the way forward, and teaches us to live in peace. What is wisdom? Reverence, awe and gratitude to God are the beginning of
wisdom. We gain wisdom as we study the scriptures in community. When we trust God and faithfully follow God, rather than our own intelligence, we grow in God’s wisdom. As our relationship with God deepens, God’s Spirit shapes us to be more like Jesus, who is the incarnate “wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). We learn to follow God’s wisdom as we live out our faith through acts of love, justice and mercy so that others can experience God’s love
through us.
by Jeneene Reduker
For Pondering and Prayer
As I read this scripture, it made me pause and ask myself two questions that you can also ask yourself today:
Am I treating my relationship with God like a priceless, living treasure, something that should be loved and cared for, or am I treating it as a buried treasure that is out of my sight and useless to me?
Am I seeking the gift of God’s wisdom in my life, or am I following my own flawed intelligence?
Prayer: Holy and Loving God, we thank you for the priceless gifts of your mercy, grace and love. Now more than ever, we seek your divine wisdom to guide us as we follow Jesus. Help us to remember that our relationship with you is a priceless gift to be cared for each day. Amen.
