Above All Else

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Pr 4:7 AV)

Sometimes, I don’t think we realize just how profound important this statement is.  Coming from a man who had and experienced all that life can offer, this is quite a statement.  The discipline to apply truth is the most important of all goals.  Attaining our own desires or goals without the proper wisdom required makes for very short success.  Wisdom will shape those goals and dictate how we pursue them.  Wisdom is the most valuable of all treasures.  Knowing God’s word, knowing out to apply God’s word, and living by those truths revealed in God’s word is the greatest gift God could ever give to a man.

Chess is not my favorite game.  I simply cannot think that far ahead.  However, it is a great game for strategist and a wonderful show of wisdom.  Wisdom is foreseeing the consequences of choices before those choices are made.  Chess is a game where one needs to know how and why an opponent does what he does.  The chess master sees to whole board.  Not only what is, but what could be.  The chess master considers all consequences of every move and only risks what he can afford to lose while forcing his opponent to lose more than he can afford to lose.  Wisdom sees what should be done and fights and impulse to do what one desires to do.  The terms of the game dictate the move.  I have always envied those who can think that abstractly yet be disciplined by reality.

Life is much like this.  There seems to be endless possibilities of choices.  There are many different outcomes.  Wisdom is the ability to choose the right one.  When Solomon says that wisdom is the principle thing, this is foundational.  Not ‘a’ principle thing.  But ‘the’ principle thing.  No matter what choice needs to be made, whether it is the basic decision to trust Christ as Savior, or more complex decisions that have bearing on our practical life, wisdom is the first and principle ingredient to walking in a life of blessedness.  It is the first and primary need of living a life which glorifies God.  Wisdom is indeed the principle thing.  Before all else, knowing what is right and possessing the discipline to apply it is the very definition of our existence.  Therefore, seek wisdom.  Above all else, desire wisdom.  Before anything else, live in wisdom