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Monday April 21 - Free upgrade
“You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.” Proverbs 8:5
I’ve recently had to update the OS on my iMac because it was becoming outdated and unable to do everything I needed it to do. That said, I’d got rather used to things running slowly and inefficiently. Putting off the hassle that typically comes with a software upgrade seemed the easier option, but in doing so I’d settled for second best. Today’s passage is a reminder that we ourselves can so easily live ‘under par’ with regard to the things of God. If you track a little further down Proverbs 8 you’ll see the upgrade that God is presenting us with, which comes to us when we receive his wisdom. Waiting to be downloaded is God’s truth, an understanding of his kind of justice and heavenly knowledge!
Here’s the thing: just as it was with my iMac, to receive this wisdom we have to get to the point of recognising our deficiency. We mustn’t be offended by words like ‘simple’ or ‘foolish’. They are just a way of describing our lack of understanding God’s ways and his wisdom. Or, in terms of my iMac OS, our personal need of a divine upgrade. In the light of this, are we content to remain simple and foolish or do we have enough earthly wisdom to receive what God has for us?
Father God, I recognise my need of an upgrade from you, and gladly receive your wisdom and your understanding. Amen.
Tuesday April 22 - How to get rich quick
“Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice
gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies...” Proverbs 8:10-11
When I was younger, I foolishly responded to a newspaper ad offering the opportunity to ‘get rich quick’. It turned out to be an empty promise and little short of a scam. But I have no-one to blame but myself. I was not only looking to shortcut the process of working hard to earn an honest wage, but I was also enticed by the lure of money.
The writer of this proverb, King Solomon, was a very wealthy man, so he knew a thing or two about silver, gold and precious jewels. Elsewhere in the Bible we are told that King Solomon was richer and wiser than any other king and that in his capital city silver was as common as stone (1 Kings 10:23,27). And yet there was something he valued more than his material wealth. Above all these things Solomon esteemed God’s wisdom along with heavenly knowledge and understanding. In fact, we know from the Bible that Israel’s king owed his vast wealth to a defining decision he made when crowned king. Instead of asking God for riches and power he asked for understanding and discernment to lead the nation of Israel (1 Kings 3:5-14). These are complementary qualities to that of God’s wisdom.
Once again, we are reminded that receiving wisdom from God is a choice, but when we understand its great value it will be a no-brainer!
Father God, please will you fill the treasure chest of my heart to overflowing with your invaluable wisdom. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY