A Craftsman

"When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man" (Proverbs 8:27-31).

In a poetic way, Proverbs teaches us that wisdom was a "craftsman" at the side of God when He was creating the world. This attribute of God is personified as a trusted assistant in the Lord's creative work. We are told that the Lord was wise in what He made.

To be "beside" someone is an indication of intimacy. We are to clearly understand that it was not wisdom who designed and created the world but rather God Himself. God wisely designed and created all things.

The results were magnificent. The results of His work caused wisdom to rejoice over the presence of the Lord, His creative work, as well as the children of man.

If we desire such rejoicing in our lives, we must have wisdom at our side. The great craftsman known as "wisdom" must be employed in our work. She must be present with us (beside us) as we live our lives. Simply put, if God involved wisdom in His creative undertakings, surely we mere humans need wisdom as well.

Wisdom Born

"Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust f the world" (Proverbs 8:23-26).

Wisdom was "brought forth" before the universe was created. The picture we are given is of a birth. Before God created the oceans, rivers, mountains, hills, and the dust of the earth, he birthed wisdom. This tells us, "first things first."

That was true then and it is true today. If we desire to explore the depths that life offers; to swim the "oceans" of God's truth, we must have wisdom. If our dream is to cross the "rivers" that block our journey, we must have wisdom. In order to climb to the heights of life's "mountains," wisdom must first be ours. With wisdom the world was created and in wisdom life in the world is to be lived.

Whether you are ready to face life's depths or heights, wisdom must first be yours. Let wisdom be born in your heart today as you experience the life God has given you.

From The Start

"'The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old'" (Proverbs 8:22).

From the start of God's work of creation, wisdom was there. She is personified in today's passage as God's very own wisdom. All that has been accomplished by God, in the past, has been done with wisdom. All that He will ever accomplish will be with wisdom. That is how important she is to us in our current situation.

Her various claims, in the preceding verses of Proverbs 8, are believable once we recognize her place in God's creative work. The Lord possessed wisdom as He created light, planets, stars, and moons. It was through wisdom they were perfectly positioned. It was by His wisdom that He formed plants, animals, minerals, water, and you. Wisdom has an impressive resume. She was there from the start and she is still here. She is ours if we want her.

Our creative work, important decisions, and game changing insights can be born of wisdom if only we will embrace her. Wisdom's history assures us she can impact our present and future. It is never too late for the living to acquire wisdom. She is a gift to those who will receive her. She has been that from the very start of time.

A Truly Fruitful Life

"My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries" (Proverbs 8:19-21).

Today's passage says that those who love wisdom gain wealth. It is a fact of life that material goods can be replenished with skill and hard work. Keeping one's treasuries full happens as a result of a person's skill which is refined by wisdom. There are many times in Proverbs when Solomon makes generalizations that have exceptions. There are certainly exceptions to this general truth. We all know some very wise and godly people who have not amassed great material wealth.

But we should not feel sorry for them. They have experienced something much more valuable than material wealth. Which brings us to the point.

The point that is being made, in light of one's ability to keep their treasuries full, is that there are benefits in life that are more valuable than fine gold and silver. Wisdom's fruit yields an amazing life; a life walked in the righteousness of God.

This kind of life is truly amazing because it yields benefits that are derived from "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (see Galatians 5:22).

If you want to know if you are truly rich, take a look at what your life is truly yielding. If it is yielding the fruit of God's Spirit, you are truly wealthy. If not, you are indeed poor, even if your natural skill has helped you amassed great worldly wealth.

Loving Wisdom

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness" (Proverbs 8:17-18).

Even though wisdom has called out to everyone in the city streets, she is only acquired by those who love her. The benefits of her love are described in terms of riches and wealth as well as honor and righteousness. Linking these four things together tells us that she offers the kind of riches and wealth that are not of this world.

The Hebrew word for "enduring" means "surpassing" or "eminent." The wealth that comes to the one who loves wisdom is the real thing. The riches she offers are not the worldly substitutes that come with gold and silver. As we have been told several times, wisdom is more valuable than those earthly minerals.

To truly be honored in one's community, it will take a life lived well by the loving instruction of wisdom. Superficial honor is gained by a big bank account. Those who spend their life pursuing gold and silver are chasing after the kind of honor that is fleeting, never enduring.

Today's passage reminds us that the real treasure we seek is found in godly living. It is our love for wisdom that will lead us to that real treasure, for it is wisdom that offers us our only chance at a godly life.

Wonderful Gifts

"I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes ruler, and nobles, all who govern justly" (Proverbs 8:14-16)

It probably doesn't come to you as a huge surprise that life can be very confusing. There are decisions that have to be made on a daily basis. Those decisions need to be made wisely. It helps to have people in our lives who can give wise counsel and who can give us keen insight. Wisdom is such a friend. Wisdom comes to us bearing gifts.

Wisdom presents the gifts of wise counsel and sound judgement. She gives insight for the task at hand as well as strength to complete the task. She gives us the valor of a strong soldier who fights his way through repeated battles.

Wisdom presents herself to kings, princes, rulers, and nobles as they make decisions about just laws. With wisdom they rule. With wisdom they decree. To write truly fair laws for their people, those in authority must heed the wise counsel and sound judgement wisdom offers.

This wonderful truth applies to all in authority. It applies to bosses at work as well as parents at home. It applies to teachers in the classroom as well as Presidents in the White House.

All in authority are called upon to rule with the wise counsel, sound judgement, and moral strength freely offered by wisdom. She stands ready to hand her amazing gifts to those who will receive them.

Life Untangled

"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate" (Proverbs 8:12-13).

The next ten verses contain over a dozen personal pronouns. I, me, my, and mine put the emphasis on wisdom rather than the rewards of wisdom. Therefore, wisdom is to be pursued with passion and commitment.

To possess wisdom is to naturally possess prudence, knowledge, and discretion. Our pursuit of wisdom is as noble a pursuit as we can have because wisdom leads us to an intimate relationship with the Lord. The fruit of that relationship is sensible and discrete living.

The person who lives a sensible and discrete life is the one who is not tangled in the vices of pride, arrogance, perverted speech and all things associated with the "way of evil." In other words, prudence, knowledge, and discretion will cause us to hate the same evil things the Lord hates, leading us to a life untangled.

Keep in mind that wisdom has a moral element as well as a mental element. Fearing the Lord produces a beautiful life that rejects perverse talk, evil behavior, and all things arrogant. It goes back to the fact that life is about Who we know rather than what we know. This is the meaning behind "the fear of the Lord."

If you find yourself entangled in the ugliness of pride, perverse talk, or anything associated with the way of evil, seek the wisdom of the Lord through your fear of the Lord. This will lead you to a life untangled and thus a beautiful life.

No Deceptive Twists

"All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you desire cannot compare with her" (Proverbs 8:8-11).

This passage is very similar to Proverbs 3:13-15. If I didn't know better, I would think Solomon did a little "cutting and pasting" here. But he didn't. He simply does what is necessary to drive the point home. He repeats, reiterates, and reinforces truth by saying it one more time. Hoping that if we didn't catch the truth the first time, we will catch it this time.

The message is clear: wisdom is better than gold, silver, and jewels. I know it is hard for some of us to believe this, but it's true. The very nature of wisdom should convince us of this truth. Wisdom sends us down the right path. It is the path that is straight. It does not confuse us with any deceptive twists and turns.

Confusion is caused when we believe that which is not true about life. Lies about how life can be full and meaningful apart from our Creator. Lies about us being able to save ourselves. The twisted and distorted message that life can be fulfilling if only we had enough money. The enemy wants us to believe the stairs are going down and not up.

Let's grasp the life giving truth that wisdom offers. Let's not be duped into thinking that silver, gold, and jewels fill the emptiness we all experience in life. Life is designed to be lived in intimate fellowship with our Creator. The gaps that are formed by the break in that relationship will never be filled by material things.

God is shooting straight with us in this Proverb. May we all find ourselves traveling the straight path on which wisdom points. May we not be coaxed into leaving that path in search of that which will never fill the gaps of our lives.

The High Road

"Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips" (Proverbs 8:6-7).

There is the high road of life as well as the low road of life. The high road is the noble road. A noble life is one that is characterized by high ideals and strong moral traits. Take the opposite of that and you have a life marked by low ideals and weak moral traits. That is the life that is void of wisdom.

Wisdom offers the high road. Wisdom calls us to ascend the heights of noble living. A place where are thoughts are pure and refreshing. The high road is where we can only treat others with dignity, care, concern, and true grace. Wisdom's lips speak the truth about the noble life which is beautiful. We are called to join her on the trek up the mountain of nobility and righteousness.

We have all been wounded on the low road. We have all been stung by the hurtful words of hateful people. Those who live selfishly and foolishly have treated us shamefully, with no care given for our condition, no concern for our point of view. They have not been gracious.

Choose the right road today. When the road forks in front of you, one path ascending and one path descending... ascend. Wisdom is calling us to the high road which is noble and right.

Wisdom For All

"'To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. ...'" (Proverbs 8:4-5).

Wisdom calls out to all people. To men and their children as well as to the simple and to the fools. We find in Proverbs that both the adulteress and wisdom call aloud. They both appeal to those who are naive. Wisdom asks the young to gain prudence which means they are to acquire a sensibleness to their approach to life's many confusing alternatives.

The simple are those who are untaught and the fools are those who won't be taught. Wisdom calls out to both. Those who are naive because they yet to be taught are invited to be taught. Those who foolishly reject wisdom are called to no longer live foolishly. They are encouraged to allow themselves to be taught the wise was to live.

Wisdom is for young and old. Wisdom calls to those who have yet to learn and those who have, up to this point, refused to learn. Wisdom is available to all.

Are you ready to learn from her?

Crossroads

"Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud" (Proverbs 8:1-3).

This passage is very similar to Proverbs 1:20-21 in that it assures us that wisdom is calling out to us in a way that we can hear her. She positions herself in strategic locations around the city so that we can know how to navigate the very busy and confusing roads of life.

But are we listening?

With rhetorical questions, Solomon is telling us that wisdom and understanding are calling with a loud voice. These beautiful sisters stand on high ground as well as low ground. They position themselves at the gates of town as we work our way toward and through everyday decisions. They sit at our window as we look out toward the future.

It is at the crossroads we find wisdom and understanding calling us to lean on them. Crossroads are about making a decision. Which way do I go? Do I turn here or do I go straight? Am I in the right place or not? Wisdom and understanding will let us know.

As you find yourself in the city, by the window, on the hills, or in the valleys... heed the call of wisdom and understanding. As you find yourself at the crossroads of your life, allow understanding and wisdom to call you in the right direction. For it is wisdom and understanding that will guard your steps.

No Trespassing

"And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death" (Proverbs 7: 24-27).

This section of Proverbs, relating to the call to avoid sexual immorality, ends with the most dire of warnings. This section ends with a warning that the path of the immoral leads to "the chambers of death."

There is no authentic life in sexual sin. There is only imitation life. There is no freedom in sexual sin. There is only bondage. We are called to not stray into imitation life or bondage. To do so puts us on the long list of other victims slain and laid low by sin.

No trespassing signs tend to be very clear. They designate places we don't belong. Some of those signs warn that trespassers will be shot. Those who stray from the path and enter the forbidden zone do so at their own risk. The same is true for those who stray into immoral territory. There is the threat of great harm.

It is important that we give our full attention to the truth of God's Word. His teaching is meant to give us life. His words give freedom. Enough warning has been given, right? If we fail to heed the warnings, we do so at our own peril.

To The Slaughter

"She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, 'I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I found you. I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of live till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.' With much seductive speech she persuades him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life" (Proverbs 7:13-23).

It seems that our young friend is caught by surprise by the wayward woman. There's no reason he should have been surprised. He deliberately traveled that road. Not sure what he was expecting to find around that next corner.

Regardless, she grabs him, kisses him, and then proceeds to seduce him. Her hypocrisy is found in her religious activities followed by her seductive activities. This brings us to our first lesson of the day... don't be a hypocrite. Simply put, we are to live what we believe. This will solve the hypocrisy issue that far too many people struggle with. But there are more lessons in today's passage.

Lessons such as, beware of seductive speech... perfume covered sin still stinks... "you won't get caught" is a lie... sin leads to "imprisonment" and ultimately "death."

Those imprisoned to sin are trapped in a destructive lifestyle that only brings hurt and destruction. Death to dreams, relationships, intimacy, marriages, friendships, hopes, and "life to the full" is the ultimate result of being as dumb as an ox that is led to the slaughter.

Which brings us to one last lesson... sin will always take you to the slaughter house. No amount of perfume can make that truth smell better!

Wily and Wayward

"And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; now in the street, now in the market, and at every turn she lies in wait" (Proverbs 7:10-12).

You may be familiar with the Saturday morning cartoon, The Roadrunner. That illusive little bird was not only quick on his feet, but he was a quick thinker. He knew that the wily coyote was busy setting traps for him. It was always fun for me to watch the crazy antics of the coyote as he continually failed to catch the roadrunner.

What is not fun are the real world antics of the wily and wayward woman who seeks to entice the young man who finds himself vulnerable to sexual sin.

Her hunt begins with how she dresses. Provocative and enticing attire is her camouflage. She does not sneak around in silence, however. She is loud with her outgoing personality. She draws in her prey with bold speech.

She does not hunt from her front porch. She moves about town. She goes from the street to the market. She is a roamer. She is truly wily and wayward.

Extreme caution must be exercised when it comes to the wily ways of the wayward woman. She continually sets traps for the young man who can be extremely vulnerable. The Scripture implores young men and women everywhere to keep their feet on the path of righteousness so they can be as illusive as the speedy roadrunner.

It is a sad fact of life that a plethora of traps are set by the enemy. It is a joyous thing, however, when believers are able to safely run past those traps. It would make it even more joyous if we, as speedy believers, offer a quick "Beep Beep!" as we run past those failed traps.