A Greater Treasure

Introduction

Article from Monday on Satanism and the importance of the book of Proverbs.

Suicide rate information from the CDC:

According to the CDC, between 2008 and 2018, the suicide rate among individuals aged 10-24 increased by 56% and among individuals aged 25-44 increased by 29%. This data suggests that suicide rate has increased significantly over the past decade in individuals under 35 years old.

Perhaps, at a minimum, this would suggest that material prosperity cannot meet people’s true needs.

The world’s wealthiest society has become a self-destructive one wherein even the basic of relationships are difficult to maintain.

God loves us, and He has demonstrated His love by:

Creating us.

Providing forgiveness, justification, and salvation for us.

Making himself known to us.

Giving us His word so that we may know Him and perfect righteousness (and holiness).

Francis Schaeffer, writing in The God Who Is There, observes “Nobody has ever discovered a way of having real “morals” without a moral absolute. If there is no moral absolute, we are left with hedonism (doing what I like) or some for of the social contract theory (what is best for society as a whole is right)...Without absolutes, morals as morals cease to exist, and humanistic man starting from himself is unable to find the absolute he needs” (Vol. 1, 117).

Proverbs implies that knowing how to live life properly, i.e. moral wisdom, is not innate to fallen human beings.

We do not possess internal, perfect knowledge, for what “path” we should follow.

An Encouragement through Blessing

In a manner reminiscent of the Psalmist, the writer of Proverbs now utilizes a “blessing.”

Some refer to this as an instructional hymn.

Blessing begins and ends the whole section (note Prov. 3:18).

He encourages his son to “seek” wisdom and “get/obtain” understanding by singing the praises of it (wisdom).

Implied in such a statement, however, is the inability of human beings to possess them apart from fearing God.

Prov. 3:13 : Oh the blessedness of the man (who) finds wisdom, and the man (who) will possess understanding.

We need God for salvation, but we also need Him for information.

He has been gracious to give it.

Wisdom Surpasses Material Possessions

We see similarities between Jesus’ teaching and this section of Proverbs.

Something is more important than wealth.

Divine wisdom has greater value than:

Silver

Gold

Jewels (Prov. 3:15)

Anything desirable (Prov. 3:15).

Her value lies in:

Long life

Riches and honr (through hard work and the absence of senseless living)

Kindness (the Hebrew meaning of pleasantness).

Peace.

Wisdom is a tree of life.