Proverbs 8:35

Here is a treasure of blessings! What more could you want? Lady Wisdom offers you life and God’s favor. This is the abundant life; this is the best life; this includes eternal life. Where will you look for it? Will you look where she can be found? Will you find her?

Lady Wisdom is not hiding, for she is standing in open places appealing to men of all ages and stations in life (Pr 8:1-5). She encourages you to love her and seek her early – when you are young (Pr 8:17). If it is too late to be young, then you should seek her now!

Proverbs chapter eight is a personification of wisdom, where Solomon presented wisdom and understanding as a woman, much like America represents freedom as Lady Liberty and weather as Mother Nature. Solomon invented Lady Wisdom to encourage you.

How you treat wisdom will have great consequences in your life – for good or evil. If you seek wisdom diligently, you will be blessed (Pr 8:34). If you neglect or resent it, you must love death and want the destruction of your own soul, for it is coming (Pr 8:36).

Any man and every man would say he wants an abundant life. They would also say, at worst, that the favor of the LORD could not hurt. They spend much effort, time, and resources on vain things that do not improve life, and these things also vex their spirits. Yet how many men seriously apply themselves to wisdom? Very few (Matt 7:13-14)!

Wisdom will lead you to life – a satisfying and successful life of joy, peace, hope, and contentment (Pr 3:13-18). It will bring the favor of God – the blessings of protection, prosperity, and personal fellowship with the Almighty. It is based in rightly fearing Him (Pr 1:7; 9:10; Ec 12:13), and it surely brings His abundant rewards (Ps 112:1-3; 128:1-6).

What is wisdom? It is knowing the perfect will of the infinite God for every aspect and choice of life. It is the ability and knowledge to make decisions to maximize the utility and pleasure of every part of your life. It is discernment and understanding to see all angles of matters to perceive any errors and lies and to recognize righteousness and truth. Only a few men have wisdom; with it you will stand out favorably before God and men.

Where will you look for wisdom? She is not hard to find, but she is not where the world congregates. They glory in their country clubs, nightclubs, social clubs, and educational fraternities, but there is no wisdom in these places. Wisdom is found in the Scriptures, a Bible-preaching church, and the company of wise men (Pr 13:20; Ps 119:104; Col 1:28).

But wisdom must be sought diligently. It does not rub off on the slothful; it is not absorbed by the lazy; it cannot be picked like fruit. It must be sought with serious zeal, or you will not find it (Pr 2:1-6; 18:1). Reading the Bible is not enough; attending the right church is not enough; talking with wise men is not enough. You must conscientiously and eagerly seek it with your whole heart. If you make such effort, you will find it (Pr 18:1).

The greatest life and blessing is found believing on Jesus Christ. He said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn 14:6). Fellowship with God and fullness of joy are two marks of this great life (Jn 15:11; I Jn 1:3-4), and it ends in everlasting life inheriting the universe with Jesus Christ (Rom 8:17).