Day 4 - 40 Days of WISDOM

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of WISDOM
Day  4 | THE BETTER WAY
THE BETTER WAY

Proverbs 16:16-17
“How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. The highway of the upright turns away and departs from evil; He who guards his way protects his life (soul).”
(AMP)

In Scripture, we often read about the two paths or choices people have been given throughout history.

Here again, in Proverbs, the book written by the wise King Solomon, he is painting the picture for his son (and ALL of us as well) about the two choices and which is the smart, aka better, option.

In verse 16, he states that getting WISDOM is better than GOLD, then reinforces it by saying that UNDERSTANDING is to be chosen over SILVER.

For most people in most places, that priority seems illogical. Everything we do in school, in preparation for life, seems to be leading to making more gold and silver. Being wise doesn’t seem to have any monetary value.
 
And yet, verse 17 might supply some of the answers.
 
I hear Solomon telling about the benefits of wisdom to one on the highway of life… knowing HOW and WHEN to turn (from evil) and how to drive to avoid the pitfalls and problems that can be catastrophic.

I remember many years ago when my wife and I were in Acapulco. We were walking down the street at night with a group of friends when we saw an unusual sight. A car had driven into a hole in the road. This was no ordinary little hole but one about eight feet in diameter and perhaps 4 feet deep. Additionally, there were NO barriers or warning signs, so the car driving at night, at average speeds, just went straight to the hole and fell in. The passengers had gotten out by the time we passed, but the car was sticking halfway out of the hole!

Wisdom in life – Solomon is saying – will help us avoid such pitfalls as we’ll know how to depart from evil and guard our ways.

Prayer: LORD, help me acquire more wisdom so that I might live my life in a safer, more upright manner, which I know is for my benefit. Amen.