Wisdom

If you could ask for an abundance of just one thing, what would it be?  Would you ask for money, power, health, food, clothing -- what would be the one thing you would want to insure you had over everything else?

God's revelation of what that should be may surprise you: Wisdom.  Specifically the Lord says, "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding" (Prov 4:7).  Wisdom over everything - over food, over money, over health, over everything else.  Why?

Wouldn't having a large amount of money insure we could have everything else we needed?  We could buy food, get health care, afford housing, etc.  Except that a fool and his money is soon parted or as the Bible puts it, "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has" (Prov 21:20).

And the truth is that money can't buy love or happiness or even good health.  And money, if not accompanied by wisdom is a very fluid thing indeed - it soon runs out.  Whatever else you may have is equally at risk in the hands of a fool.  How many have ruined their health doing foolish things?  How many have had power and lost it by acting the fool?  How many have lost their jobs, their houses, their families due to foolish behavior?

A foolish person wastes, risks, loses, wrecks or otherwise dispatches all that he has.  But a wise person takes care of his family, his home, his business, his life.  A wise man will find a way to make money, to secure housing, to promote his health, to provide for his family.

You can take away everything a wise man or woman has and he/she will rebuild.  But you can give a fool everything he/she needs and that person will dismantle and destroy or simply lose it.  Wisdom is the key to everything, especially the most important thing: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Prov 9:10).

And one more thing about wisdom - it can be had for the asking: "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" (Js 1:5).  God gives us wisdom, with which we can receive eternal life and riches, even though we do not deserve it.  He offers it freely to all who will seek after it.  Don't settle for less.  Jus' Say'n.