Loved Wisdom
Proverbs 8:34-36 KJV
(34) Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
(35) For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
(36) But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
So, according to this passage, just failing to pursue wisdom or actively seeking it out is the same as sinning against or hating it.
I had this friend who, when I first met him appeared to be somewhat of a classy guy- you know, someone who you might see in a shiny sports car with a fresh detail and a smooth sounding and well cared-for engine. It was a little bit revealing then when I finally came upon him together with the car he actually drove. It was an older Honda sedan minus hub caps and plus a layer of film and bird droppings. I immediately began to try and resolve this somehow with my first impression, considering that maybe the car first of all had to be parked under a heavily bird populated tree at his work place, or maybe he was just driving it as a borrowed car while his real possession was being worked on. The more I discovered about his relationship with his car, however, I came to feel that he just really didn’t care that much for it- maybe even hated it a bit. Surely anyone that cared the least for their vehicle would give it a scrub down once in a while and do something about that loose muffler and rumbly engine. Maybe with time and a few scratches here and there the passion had worn off to the point of neglect, but without question, the love just wasn’t there now whether or not it had ever been.
Now, this is quite different from the obvious affection expressed for the cars of my neighbor across the street. His cars aren’t the latest models or the fanciest, but he faithfully gives them a detailed bath at least once a week. It’s not just a squirt with the hose, either, but a real soap and water, towel down and tire dressing that gives you the impression his cars really mean something to him. What is also interesting about the love shown to his vehicles is that it directly reflects on his own well being and character. The consistency and faithfulness towards his cars is just a part what contributes to the quality of life and fulfillment that he seems to experience as a whole. His care in this one area is just a reflection of the love and appreciation he apparently has for life itself. From the time he first took possession, whether the car was brand new or second hand, it had never become an object of obvious neglect defining hate. His care of and pursuit of its maintenance had never diminished in the least, and it, as a result continues to provide him with a well running and beautiful means of transportation.
We’ve come into possession of a vehicle that will take us through the most difficult terrain of life to a prosperous and victorious destination. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says that in Christ we’ve been given what is also referred to here in Proverbs, wisdom. Like the car in the driveway, however, our feelings toward this wisdom will be directly reflected in how actively we pursue its care. How often does this treasure of such incredible potential get neglected and covered up with built up grime and road debris without just a little TLC from a caring hand? While it will produce blessing for the one who listens to its warnings and directives, there will only be trouble and breakdown for the soul that ignores its needs and leaves untended its requirements. Why not experience the fullness of life and development of character that is inevitable in the care and love of wisdom? Hate for it will require no effort at all, but will be declared by its obvious neglect, while love for it will equally be declared by the blessing and beauty it will bring to all of life in the favor of the Lord.