WISDOM Leads to HAPPINESS

Wisdom herself says, “And now, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways. Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord; but he who misses me injures himself; all who hate me love death” (Pro 8:32–36).

I try to read one proverb a day. There are 31 Proverbs and it’s easy to go through them all every month. This habit was impressed upon me shortly after I was born again. Reading Proverbs has helped me so much in witnessing to people. So many principles and laws for life are embedded in the Proverbs.

The heart of man is the same the world over. Everyone is looking for happiness; for a way to fill that void left in the heart of man by God. –that ache that cannot be satisfied by pleasure, riches, and power. But the Word says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom and in all thy getting, get understanding“ (Pro 4:7). The Bible says, “He who gets wisdom loves himself” (Pro 19:8). In other words, do yourself a favor: Get wisdom! It is the key to lasting happiness.

The book of Proverbs is the writings of King Solomon, the wisest man who had ever lived up to that time. God poured so much wisdom into him because he did not ask God for money or power, but for the necessary understanding to judge people of Israel. He prayed, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1Ki 3:9).

Solomon was searching for happiness too. He learned an important truth: Godly wisdom can bring you happiness. “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and who acquires understanding” (Pro 3:13).

He also said that Godly wisdom makes you richer than wealthy people.

“To get wisdom is better than gold; to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver”  (Pro 16:16).

Our thirst for happiness is insatiable, and if we do not have the wisdom to seek it in God, then we will find whatever substitutes we can in the world. “My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off” (Prov 24:13,14).

When the Pharisees were criticizing and judging Jesus, He responded by saying,

“The Queen of the South (Sheba) will stand up [as a witness] at the judgment against this generation, and will condemn it because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and now, someone greater than Solomon is here, and you refuse to listen” (Lk 11:31). The reason why Jesus could say that is because He’s the One Who created the world, and gave that wisdom to Solomon.

A good definition of godly wisdom would be: hearing God’s Word and DOING God’s Word. God’s Word is a divine prescription for how to be finally cured of all unhappiness. Jesus said so, in Matthew 7:24. He said, “If you want to be a wise man, don’t just hear the Word BUT DO IT.”

So in summary, when the Bible says, “Get wisdom,” it encourages us to read and APPLY the WORD. Wisdom begins with the fear (reverencing) of the Lord and consists in humbly hearing and doing God’s will.

Such wisdom is so important to acquire, because the person who has it, finds LIFE and JOY, but the person who doesn’t finds death and misery. Therefore, get wisdom! Get wisdom!