Proverbs 4:22

The lessons of wisdom are crucial for your life. If you find and keep them, they will bring prosperity and success to your life. If you find and keep them, they will bring function and vitality to your existence. You must first submit yourself to the instruction of wisdom (Pr 4:20), and then you must retain what you have been taught (Pr 4:21).

You have seen lives so messed up that it is easy to think death might be a mercy. You have seen lives so dysfunctional and painful that it is easy to wonder why they were ever born. You have seen lives so distressed and troubled that it is easy to describe their lives as hell on earth. Wisdom saves men from such terrible and wasted lives. It is life to those that find it, in that wisdom teaches a person how to live joyfully and successfully.

Most men think that eliminating laws and rules would bring happiness and success. They foolishly think that freedom to do as they wish would bring pleasure. They are fools. What do they think will keep their neighbors from killing them for their wives and houses? They think the laws of the Bible are onerous and restrictive, yet it is by wise precepts and statutes that people live together most happily, prosperously, and securely.

Most men think that eliminating laws and rules would bring happiness and success. They foolishly forget that they arrived in this world totally ignorant and messing on themselves. Without divine guidance in the form of commandments, they would not know how to treat parents, spouses, children, neighbors, magistrates, or employers. They would not know how to make marriage, family, business, church, or society work at all.

Without the knowledge or restraint of wise laws, humanity might practice cannibalism, witchcraft, polyandry, incest, child sacrifice, sodomy, insect worship, necrophilia, or a host of other abominations, as has happened in many nations not having the light of God’s laws. There is glorious wisdom taught in the inspired scriptures of Jehovah!

What do these profane activities do? Bring health and happiness, wealth and progress? No way! They promote war, disease, death, dysfunction, poverty, misery, and ignorance. Nations long without the Bible or its influence are typically third world. They are incredibly backward and/or morally corrupt. Light and progress are by the Word of God alone, and the nations that follow it are blessed indeed (Pr 8:12-21; Ps 33:12; 144:15).

Moses told Israel, “And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it” (Deut 32:46-47). Do you see it, reader? The words of God’s law are your life.

To live your life without God’s words is insanity, as moral degeneracy and degradation of much of the present world still proves so clearly. Moses told his successor, Joshua, that he could achieve success and prosperity by remembering, meditating upon, and obeying God’s law (Josh 1:7-8). Jesus came bringing even greater light than Moses, and He promised life and life more abundant for keeping His sayings (John 1:4,17; 10:10).

Do you consider the Word of God more valuable than fine gold and sweeter than honey (Ps 19:11)? Why not? Do you consider His words more than your necessary food (Job 23:12)? You should. They are life and health for body and soul. Neglect His words to your own peril and pain. Instead, read and remember it for your great pleasure and profit.