Proverbs 8:35-36 

³⁵For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. ³⁶But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.

Car

Some times ago, bicycle is enough. These days, they want to have their car.

A father told a story when his daughter desired to buy her first car; they bought a secondhand car. After few months, the secondhand car had breakdown; it had mechanical failures that repair cost was estimated half of its price. It was very tough lesson learned that spending much money like purchasing cars should be thoroughly examined and should not be rushed or taken for granted.

How do you choose high tech gadgets, car, house or fishing gears, tools or groceries? At first, we don’t know. We just imitate choices of other people until we become confident of what we really want. Do you buy things that you have not seen from others? Have you ever been very certain of what you want in life?

Most often, we decide on many things by trial and error. We try something and if it is not beneficial, we try again. Such approach of life can be very costly.

King David prayed in Psalm 16:1-2, ¹Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. ²I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

            Most often, we decide instinctively for ourselves? Have you been satisfied with the results of your plans that have origins from your human sinful instinct?

Consider this: Our human instinct is sinful. Do you agree? Well then, if decisions are instinctive work of human sinful nature, is it proper to expect fullness of life?

To have life in its fullness, we rely upon Christ, not from human instinct, nature or tendency. Sinful human instinct chooses or decides according to natural preferences; human nature prefers sinful inclination; it won’t prefer godly things or the will of the Lord. But if we become aware and pray for inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is when the Lord performs in our heart and mind so that we seek his favor. It is very advisable to seek favor from the Lord prayerfully.

1.  Favor

³⁵For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.

            The secret of fullness of life is revealed by wisdom. Wisdom uncovers how we can receive favor from the Lord. How many Christians realize that secret of fullness of life? Godly wisdom reveals the secret on how we can enjoy life and receive godly favors. The pronoun “me” pertains to godly wisdom.

Find wisdom, find life and favor from the Lord. Of course, it also takes wisdom to realize that we need godly wisdom to attain the best life we can ever experience, and that is also divine work of God in our life.

Let us meditate and internalize what we have learned in Proverbs 3:13-18. ¹³Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, ¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. ¹⁵She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. ¹⁶Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. ¹⁸he is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.

            Silver and gold represent wealth; rubies represent prestige. Prestige, honor, wealth and peace are practical blessings that everyone desires to have in life. Wisdom holds the secret of prestige, honor, wealth and peace. Find wisdom and find those practical blessings we desire to have including favor from the Lord.

Vacation

            Many people plan for memorable vacation. Plan for memorable vacation inspires to work harder. How about memorable vacation while serving in mission internationally? We met short term missionaries; they travel to East Asia every summer. They teach Conversational English Classes and get paid. Pray how you serve the Lord through missions. You will surely have memorable vacation.

            To spend memorable vacations in mission works, you store up treasures for yourselves in heaven. Pray for godly wisdom and right decision on how you may spend your memorable vacation productively and spiritually. The Lord has already prepared the good work he wants us to excel and experience much of his favor.

            Have you heard someone said, “If you fail to plan, you planned to fail?”

Most often, when things won’t result according to expectation, we consider it as failure. Does God use failures to remind us of human limitation and need for his help? And it takes godly wisdom to realize our failure and need for God’s help.

2.  Failure

          ³⁶But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.

            Again, the pronoun “Me” pertains to wisdom. Those who fail to find wisdom harm themselves; all who hate wisdom love death.

Is it true that nobody wants harm and death? Believers who are assured of eternal life would not intentionally desire to die, right? Surely, there’s a time to live and a time to die, but why die ahead of the day that God had designated for us to die? How do you interpret this? “All those who fail to find wisdom harm themselves. All who hate wisdom love death.” Do people intentionally love death?

Maybe, it is end of thinking capacity for those who desire to end their life.

Mental Illness

            One of the many problems of mankind that has no certain solution just yet is mental illness. Mental illness had been avoided and not openly discussed, why? There are obscure stigma and confusion about mental illness. What can we do? Is it true that mental illness is related to dementia or impartial ability to remember?

            Like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, tooth ache or any other illnesses, nobody wants and intentionally desires to have mental illness. Patients want to be treated and get well from illness. Earnestly pray for wisdom for their doctors to diagnose accurately and give treatment appropriately. Reflect on what Isaiah 53:5 declares, ⁵He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

How do you interpret that? Should we interpret that healing from the Lord includes all physical or mental illnesses in this world? The Lord decides which illness he wants us to be totally healed from while we live on earth. If the Lord has better plan for allowing our illness not to be cured or healed, to God be the glory.

Together, let us reflect of what Christ had promised in John 16:33: ³³I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Christ declared that we may have peace despite the difficulties in life. How? When the Lord allows problems, we can still find peace in him. Peace from God that surpasses understanding helps persevere despite the difficulties, even if we cannot explain. Peace from God should serve as practical proof that Holy Spirit of Christ actively reigns in our heart. But then again, we need godly wisdom to interpret this godly truth personally. We seek and acquire wisdom from God.

For those who find wisdom find life and receive favor from the Lord. But those who fail to find wisdom harm themselves; all who hate wisdom love death.

Life as result of godly wisdom is fullness of life that Christ promised. Favor as bonus result of godly wisdom is anything practically and spiritually beneficial to us.

It is by faith we believe and by wisdom we internalize this Scriptural truth.

May this Scriptural reality resonate loudly and affect our life eternally.

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