How Godly Wisdom Can Bring You Happiness

May 19, 2016 Year C

Proverbs 3:13-18

Everyone is searching for happiness. Solomon was searching for it too. As the king of Israel, he was looking for satisfaction in life. In the end, he found that life in and of itself is meaningless. He wrote about this in Ecclesiastes. But before that conclusion, Solomon learned an important truth: Godly wisdom can bring you happiness.

This truth means that if do what God wants you to do, you will be truly happy. The truth that Godly wisdom can bring you happiness form the bookends of this proverb (Proverbs 3:13, 18). On one end, wisdom brings happiness to the man who finds her (Proverbs 3:13). On the other end, wisdom (personified in the Proverbs as a woman) is a tree of life for who embrace her (Proverbs 3:18). The tree of life comes from Genesis, the fruit of which God said that Adam and Eve should eat. The tree of life represents Godly wisdom and it provides not just nourishment, but contentment, fulfillment and happiness.

THREE WAYS THAT GODLY WISDOM CAN BRING YOU HAPPINESS

1. Godly wisdom makes you richer than wealthy people.

Proverbs 3:14-15 compares the search for wisdom to the search that other people have in this world. People will search far and wide to happiness. Like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, people think that riches will bring happiness. Solomon states that wisdom is better than riches. How is that so? One may not have more money than rich people. Yet, the life one gains from accumulating Godly wisdom will be better than chasing after money. The words used in these verses describe financial realities: profit and revenue (Proverbs 3:14), jewels and desires (Proverbs 3:15). Wealthy people search for ways to make their riches grow.

An old show called “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” gave people an inside look into the properties of rich people. The show gave us a tour of their collections, their wealth and the way they ate, slept, and dressed. Unlike the reality shows of today, this unique show never revealed how the rich lived. I suspect the reason is because the life of a rich person is very stressful and difficult. Chasing after money leads to a stressful and often short life – which is the exact opposite of what Godly wisdom brings. Let’s look at the other two qualities that Godly wisdom brings.

2. Godly wisdom brings a long and prosperous life.

The reason is because beyond riches, Godly wisdom can bring long life and honor (Proverbs 3:16-17). These were the promises that God gave to Solomon because Solomon chose Godly wisdom over these things.

3. Godly wisdom brings you a more pleasant life.

Godly wisdom brings ways into our lives that can make our lives easier and less stressful. Our lives become more pleasant and peaceful (Proverbs 3:17).

Prayer: God, thank You that Your wisdom can lead to my happiness. Your wisdom, when I follow it, can help me live a much better life.