Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 576 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

More Precious Than Jewels – Proverbs 3

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 576 of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails, we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore Proverbs 3 from The Voice Translation, which will give us a fresh perspective on this book of timeless wisdom.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. In addition to our grandson Kip staying with us last week, we had the blessing of investing time with all of our grandkids over the weekend. Some of them even stayed overnight on Friday, which is always a fun time. Although each one is different, each of them is a precious jewel to us. In Proverbs, Solomon tells us that God’s wisdom infused within us is like wearing fine jewelry. It is also described as being more valuable than gold or silver.

So today in chapter 3 of Proverbs we will explore how wisdom is…

More Precious Than Jewels

In this chapter, we’ve got two more speeches from the father to the son, with a poem about Lady Wisdom nestled in between.

· 3rd Speech from Father to Son

Verses 1-12: This speech is a classic that contains some familiar verses. The father leaves behind the earlier emphasis on outside evil forces and moves on to encourage the son to address his own character. Pay attention to the physicality of the words and how often the father uses “you/your” to highlight personal works of faith and their rewards.

Give God your best of what you make, and you will prosper to the fullest with plenty of food and drink. The last two verses in this section (11-12) stand out because they don’t focus on prizes for honoring God. Instead, the father encourages the son to accept God’s discipline. Don’t lose heart when times are hard, he says, but rather trust that God corrects those He loves—like a father disciplining a son.

· 2nd Speech from Lady Wisdom

Verses 13-20: This is a beautiful poem about the value of wisdom, personified once more as a woman. “No gem is more precious;” the author sighs, “nothing you desire can compare with her.” The poet paints Lady Wisdom as a haven, a resting place, and a force of peace — a powerful one. In fact, she’s compared to the “tree of life” from Genesis 2:9, and in verses 19-20 we’re told that God himself employed wisdom to create the world, “It was by Wisdom that the Eternal fashion the earth.” God’s wisdom is a powerful force in this universe, and we have access to it!

· 4th Speech from Father to Son

Verses 21-35: This chapter ends with another speech from the father, emphasizing again that the way of wisdom is a way of peace. When you are wise, you’ll sleep well, live without fear, and will avoid traps that other people easily fall into. The father gives some practical relationship advice aimed at bringing peace. Give people what they are owed, don’t think of ways to harm people, don’t accuse people without evidence, and don’t envy people who get things through violence.

¹ My son, always remember what I have taught you;
keep my instructions dear to your heart.
² If you do, they will be your guide to
a long, healthy, prosperous life.

³ Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth;
engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck;
meditate on them so they are written upon your heart.
⁴ In this way, you will win the favor of God and others,
and they will think well of you.

⁵ Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely;
never depend upon your own ideas and inventions.
⁶ Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish,
and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.
⁷ And don’t think you can decide on your own what is right and what is wrong.
Respect the Eternal; turn and run from evil.
⁸ If you depend on Him, your body and mind will be free from the strain of a sinful life,
will experience healing and health,  and will be strengthened at their core.

⁹ Pay tribute to the Eternal in all of your affairs.
Honor Him with the best of what you make.
¹⁰ That way you will prosper to the fullest
and have plenty of food to eat and wine to drink.

¹¹ My son, do not ignore the Eternal’s instruction
or lose heart when He steps in to correct you;
¹² Because the Eternal proves His love by caring enough to discipline you,
just as a father does his child, his pride and joy.^[a]

¹³ How fortunate are those who discover Lady Wisdom
and those who understand her ways!
¹⁴ For her worth is greater than the most expensive prize you could win.
Her profit is greater than the finest thing you could buy.
¹⁵ No gem is more precious than she is—
your most extravagant desire doesn’t come close to her.
¹⁶ She holds the secret of a long life in one hand
and riches and fame in her other hand.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant;  all of her pathways are peaceful.
¹⁸ She is like a tree that produces a satisfied life for anyone who can wrap their arms around her;
happiness waits for any who hold her tightly.

¹⁹ It was by wisdom that the Eternal fashioned the earth
and by understanding that He designed the heavens.
²⁰ Through His knowledge, the deep was divided into seas and sky,
and the clouds understood when to let down the morning dew.

²¹ My son, never lose sight of God’s wisdom and knowledge:
make decisions out of true wisdom, guard your good sense,
²² And they will be life to your soul
and fine jewelry around your neck.
²³ Then each one of your steps will land securely on your life’s journey,
and you will not trip or fall.
²⁴ Your mind will be clear, free from fear;
when you lie down to rest, you will be refreshed by sweet sleep.
²⁵ Stay calm; there is no need to be afraid of a sudden disaster
or to worry when calamity strikes the wicked,
²⁶ For the Eternal is always there to protect you.
He will safeguard your each and every step.

²⁷ Do not withhold what is good from those who deserve it;
if it is within your power to give it, do it.
²⁸ Do not send your neighbor away, saying, “Get back with me tomorrow.
I can give it to you then,”
when what he needs is already in your hand.
²⁹ Make no plans that could result in injury to your neighbor;
after all, he should be more secure because he lives near you.
³⁰ Avoid fighting with anyone without good reason,
especially when no one has hurt you;
you have nothing to fight about.
³¹ Do not envy someone who profits at the expense of others
or copy any of his tyrannical ways,
³² For crooked people are detestable to the Eternal,
but those with integrity receive His counsel.
³³ His curse lingers over the wicked and their families,
but He forever favors residence of those who do what is right.
³⁴ God treats the arrogant as they treat others,
mocking the mockers, scorning the scornful,
but He pours out His grace on the humble.^[b]
35 In the end, the wise will receive honor,
but fools will face humiliation.

That will conclude our exploration of Proverbs 3. Next week we will continue with Chapter 4, and each week we will explore a full chapter in Proverbs. I hope that you will join us each week so that you can gain wisdom, insight, and understanding for yourself.

All of the Proverbs provide us with rich wisdom, insight, and understanding on a myriad of life issues. Regardless of where you are in your faith walk, if you follow the precepts in Proverbs, your life will be rich and satisfying. I encourage you to take them and plant the seeds of wisdom in your heart so that you will reap a harvest of wisdom throughout your life.

Tomorrow we will hike another short trail of Wisdom Unplugged where we will discover an inspirational wisdom quote. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along with us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. You can also subscribe through iTunes or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!