Wisdom is Bought at a Price

Scripture:
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
    Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.
Proverbs 4:7-8

Observation: Per the writer of Proverbs, the start of wisdom is ... to get wisdom. It is first wise to seek wisdom and understanding. Or to say it a different way, the first step in understanding the will of God is to wish to understand the will of God. For this, we should be willing to give up everything. Then, with wisdom, if we hold onto and cling fast to that wisdom, we will be honored through that wisdom and understanding.

Application: This is what I was really praying last night. I have recently acquired wisdom, and that wisdom in in the value of meditating on God's word while seeking the Holy Spirit. I wish to spend my "free cycles" thinking about God's laws and precepts and teaching and guidance. I desire to truly think deeply and regularly about God, and part of this is to release and cease the other thoughts in my head at night.

But I bought this wisdom at a price, and it wasn't cheap. I paid for this wisdom with ... lost security in life, the destruction of my professional reputation, a total disruption and permanent loss of my career, the removal of both station and title, elimination of several professional relationships, and the long-term loss of seven figures in money. This wisdom has been costly. For that reason, I better remember that it is amazingly valuable! It cost me a lot, and therefore needs to be treasured, remembered, embraced, and observed.

And the truth is, this wisdom cost me ONLY in earthly terms. Everything above - from reputation to position to money - is relevant only within the value structure of worldly life. Those things that are eternal ... true and Godly friends, a loving family, personal happiness, heavenly blessing, and opportunity to serve the Lord ... I did not lose one single sliver of any of these.

Everything of God, with eternal value, I kept. Everything of earthly and temporal consequence, I paid. And with it, I got wisdom. Maybe I didn't know I was doing it at the time, but ... I sold everything I had to buy the one pearl. I will now cherish and embrace it.

Prayer: Lord, as I said last night, please bring your spirit to strengthen me every day. I fix my heart and mind on you and your laws, precepts, and instruction. I strive to set aside all other thoughts. I now rejoice that I was able to sell the worthless clutter of this world in order to find the eternal treasure I lacked. May my life serve you. Amen.