Profits

We all want to profit.

“How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gets understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels And nothing you desire compares with her.” (Proverbs 3:13) 

The profits of wisdom come after the obtaining, and that starts with “the fear of the Lord.” (Proverbs 1:7) We all want to profit, but most look for windfalls. Seeking wisdom requires our sober acknowledgement that resurrection from the dead depends solely on our Creator’s will. That, to me, is very sobering. Seeking wisdom requires humble servitude. “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me.” (Matthew 11:29)

Most importantly seeking wisdom requires a heart willing to repent, and that seems to be the deal breaker for most of the world. “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36) An obvious case of fatal shortsightedness. Esau’s price for his birthright was a bowl of soup. (Genesis 25:30-32)

Seek wisdom and get the gifts of knowledge and understanding, even faith so that you might remove mountains. But remember that these gifts will “profit us nothing” if we are without love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:11-13)

The Father calls us to Jesus who gives us, at birth, “the right to become children of God.”   May we never be tempted with a bowl of soup, or any of the riches of this world.