Proverbs 8:22-26

²²The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; ²³I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. ²⁴When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; ²⁵before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, ²⁶before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.

First Paid Job

What’s the first paid job that you had? Did you personally decide to work in that first paid job that you had? What was your reason of working in your first paid job? Did you view it as first step for future career or you just wanted to earn money? Do you have a very memorable working time in your very first paid job?

I consider fishing as my very first job at a very young age. I did not earn money for myself, but every single day, I went fishing as additional food for the family. When I was not fishing, I helped plant trees and veggies. Fishing and planting are therapeutic activities for me to loosen up and unwind.

There was an argument: “What was the very first career in human history?”

Someone said: Security Guard. The Lord stationed Cherubim to guard Eden.

Another said: Business. It was when the serpent negotiated with Adam and Eve.

Another one said: Farming. Adam took care of the animals and plants in Eden.

Still another one said: Electrician. God created light when things were in chaos.

Then someone argued: Politicians! Everyone was puzzled. “How could politicians be the first career? What is your biblical basis for that?” They asked.

“Just think of it. Who created the chaos!” the unexpected answer came.

Of course, unless they have good knowledge of the Scripture, they would claim anything unbiblical that they think is right. And speaking about work, what do you think is the very first project that the Lord as recorded in the Scripture?

It says in Genesis 1:1, ¹In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Heaven was the first project of God; earth was next project. And that is according to the recorded creation of heaven and earth. Yet before heaven and earth were created, the Lord brought forth wisdom in eternity long before he created anything else in the world. Wisdom was formed at the very beginning.

1. Beginning

               ²²The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; ²³I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

In reality, the wisdom of God co-existed with God from the very beginning. God is eternal; God has no beginning; God has no end. How can we explain that?

It is by faith we believe that God is eternal; he has no beginning, he has no end.

But, from human point of view, everything has beginning. What was the very first thing that God did? He formed wisdom. Everything he did, he does and he will do, wisdom is there. God did nothing without using wisdom.

What is it that you think that God did at random without using his wisdom?

Rich Man

A story was told about a rich man who established numerous businesses. He wanted his children to take over his business at one point. He sent his children to prestigious schools of business and completed their master. When his children completed their studies, he let his children decide to choose which business they wish to work with. But he sent them to apply as interns. Why?

A friend testified that his first job at one of the numerous businesses of his father was to wash their delivery trucks. Then, he work as delivery man. It took him few more years before he started managing one of their family businesses.

Everyone starts working somewhere to practice their skill. No one is born who knows everything from the start. Just imagine yourself creating something out of nothing. Do you have any idea what to do? Where do you start? What is it that you can originally do that nobody has ever done in the history of mankind?

Together, let us reflect on what had been declared in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10. ⁹What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. ¹⁰Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.

Anything that mankind does may have been inspired by something else. Transportation, entertainment, clothing, gadget, communication, and what are things that had been invented that was not copied from a prototype or model?

John 1:1-3 declares, ¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Christ was the word who was born as human Jesus. Christ is the Creator of heaven and earth. Christ is the wisdom of God and power of God. It is by faith we trust him for our life. Why? He is the giver of life. He knows the best life we can ever live in its fullness. Can you believe that Christ knows the best career path we can enjoy? Yes! Christ was given birth in human flesh to exemplify his love for us.

2.  Birth

²⁴When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; ²⁵before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, ²⁶before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.

Technically, how do we imagine what transpired before everything on earth was formed into existence? What happened initially? Wisdom was given birth first before heaven was created. When it says that wisdom was given birth, it implies that wisdom is alive, active and functional, as compared to things, tools, devices or gadgets that cannot move and cannot function when nobody touches them.

Nobody touches spring water to flow; it flows from higher ground to the lower ground because of gravity. The dust of the earth is blown by the wind from one place to another. Mountains and hills don’t move from their places.

Interestingly, Christ had declared in Matthew 17:20, ²⁰I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

God created many things that human strength cannot move like mountain. Yet with modern technology and mechanism, humans can move mountains from one place to another. When Christ used moving mountains as evidence of faith, he implied that there are gargantuan tasks that are impossible for human ability but can be accomplished by faith. How does faith in God function in our favor?

Together, let us find inspiration from what it declares in Psalm 37:3-6: ³Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: ⁶He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

We only delight in the Lord when we trust him. When we commit our ways to him, he enables us enjoy and be delighted in our life like the noonday sun. When we put our faith in the Lord, we obey him as a practical proof of our faith. When we practise faith in Christ, we need godly wisdom to follow his instruction.

How did you practice your faith? Before we initiate doing things that we assume as the will of God, we have to pray for faith and godly wisdom to interpret appropriately what God wants us to do with enthusiasm and be delighted with. Pray also for inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide us which practical step we take.

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