Neglect

"And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, by he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:32-36).

It is now wisdom who addresses the sons. She connects listening and blessing three times in alternating order. You are blessed if you listen and if you listen you are blessed. Her plea for the sons to listen is followed by significant promises.

To neglect her plea is to forego the promises being made. To neglect anything leads to its ultimate demise and so wisdom calls on us to avoid the demise of our lives that comes by neglecting her words.

If blessing comes from really hearing and following through with what we are taught by wisdom, we are foolish not to listen. She promises that to listen to her leads us to life as well as to God's favor. Life and favor can be ours if we do not neglect wisdom's words. The Hebrew word for "favor" means "acceptance, goodwill, or approval." It means that the life lived wisely is pleasing to the Lord.

If you truly desire the fullness of life God offers; a life that is pleasing to God, do not neglect wisdom's words. There still remain only two options when it comes to this. We will either enjoy the wonderful way of life that comes to us because we have listened to wisdom, or we will experience the folly of death brought on by neglect. Choose wisely!