Proverbs 19:7-8

⁷The poor are shunned by all their relatives—how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found. ⁸The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.

Wisdom

What is wisdom? How do we explain wisdom in simple language to ordinary listeners or a child? Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments. It is a skill to discern between right and wrong. It’s expertise and experiential knowledge.

Observe the level of your wisdom. What will you personally choose between wealth and wisdom? We can learn from the wise King Solomon in 2 Chronicles 1:7-12, ⁷God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” ⁸Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. ⁹Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. ¹⁰Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

¹¹God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, ¹²therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

God is gracious. Solomon asked for wisdom, and God added wealth, possessions and honor. God wants us to ask him for wisdom, why? It is a practical proof of trust that he cares for essential things we need. Wisdom from God helps us discern the adventurous path he designed for us.

From his personal experience, King Solomon advised it in Proverbs 4:7.  ⁷Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Wisdom is more precious than everything we have. Surely, Solomon observed it personally. Power and wealth of nations were useless when King David defeated them. If you wish to be successful, pursue wisdom.

1. Pursue

⁷The poor are shunned by all their relatives—how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.

Is it possible that the poor have wisdom? Being poor implies lacking and needy of material things. We can blame circumstances, surroundings and upbringing for limited ability to find treasure and comfort. But we should not be crushed by limitation of resources. Instead, limitation should prompt us to seek help from God. Together, let’s learn from the actual experience of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, ⁹Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” ¹⁰Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

The named “Jabez” is variant to grief or sorrow. Possibly, his mother named him “Jabez” because she expected that Jabez will have painful life. Before Jabez prayed, he might suffered a painful and tough kind of life. If we read between the lines of his prayer when he requested for blessings of larger territory, Jabez might have been hurt by insults or unpleasant abuses from his relatives and neighbors. When he asked God to be kept him from harm and pain, it implies physical or verbal abuse or ridicule for being poor.

Anywhere, rich people take advantage and exploit the poor. Someone said, “Nobody listens to me because I’ve got no money!” The worst place to live is where nobody cares about you. The worst school for students is where bullying is rampant. Jabez might have experienced being bullied in his early life. It’s great place to live where someone cares about you.

Godly people have received God’s blessings. God gave abundant wealth to Solomon, Esther, Joseph, Daniel, David, Job, and Abraham. How do you manage wealth? Pray for wisdom to glorify God with your success.

It is advised in James 1:5-8, ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

With wisdom, we decide that it is right to trust God with everything we have. We follow his instruction and explore adventurous life in Christ. With wisdom, we choose to testify for Christ, whether we prosper or just not yet.

2. Prosper

⁸The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.

Do you strongly accept that God decides if we prosper or not yet?

We desire a pleasant life. So, we should plead to God for godly wisdom. We should not be satisfied with our limited understanding. Ability and skills need to be cultivated. The more skillful we can be, the better life experience awaits us in the future. Cherish understanding and expect prosperity.

Certainly, this advice comes from the wisdom that King Solomon received from God. How can we internalize the value of wisdom from God? We seek similar amount of wisdom that King Solomon received from God.

Have you wondered why young people would listen to friends rather than to their parents? The interest of young people is on different level.

If parents tell children to do household chores, they respond without rush. But when peers invite them to go stroll in the park, they quickly agree without hesitation, why? Strolling in the park is what they desire. But if you invite parents to stroll in the park, they think first, if they have nothing to do.

Similarly, spiritual maturity has different level. If you’re serious of your spiritual life, you prioritize eternal treasure more than material things.

Man Born Blind

Sometimes God situates us where we can gauge if our faith in him has progressed. Together, let’s reflect on the narrative after the Lord healed a man born blind in John 9:20-25, ²⁰“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. ²¹But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” ²²His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. ²³That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

²⁴A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

²⁵He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

His parents were scared to be kicked out of the synagogue. They preferred to be members of the synagogue and avoid to be associated with Christ. In contrast, the man who was healed by Jesus did not hesitate to testify of his personal experience with Christ. Healing from Christ includes healing from anything that prevent spiritual growth and maturity.

We ask God to fill us with the Spirit of wisdom to understand his revelation on how we may grow spiritually. Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. He reveals how we grow spiritually and practice it.

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