Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 130 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Proverbs Chapter 2:1-15

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 130 of our Trek. Yesterday we hiked the trail of Be->Do->Have and learned why it is so important to follow those steps each day to have a rich and satisfying life. Today and for the next few days, we will remain at camp and dig for the nuggets of wisdom contained within the book of Proverbs starting today in Chapter 2. Once we complete the entire book of Proverbs, we will make the entire commentary available in an eBook. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions as we explore these nuggets of wisdom, please share them in the comment section of our daily journal pages.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as we prepare for our short trip to Phoenix this weekend, I will be recording a few episodes in advance since I will not have the time to prepare and record while traveling. The next few days are jammed packed with work, so it will require a couple of late nights this week.

As we remain at camp during our study of Proverbs, it is similar to taking the proper time to study the trail maps so that we can have a safe and expedient hike. The book of Proverbs provides us a wisdom map so that we can navigate life safely and expediently as we gain wisdom, insight, and discernment.

The title for Proverbs Chapter 2 is the “Benefit of Wisdom,” and we will see there are many benefits for our life’s daily trek as we study Proverbs.

The Benefits of Wisdom

I will begin our discussion today by reading Verses 1-4.

¹ My child, listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
² Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
³ Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
⁴ Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.

1. The search for wisdom

We must greatly desire wisdom. We must listen to it. We must desire it. We must ask questions so that we can learn more. We must hunt for wisdom like someone who searches for gold.

Psalm 42:1 is similar, “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.”

Also see Job 28. A man digs deep into the earth. He breaks through the rock. He enters places that no animal has seen. He finds gold and silver. He discovers many things. However, he cannot find wisdom there. Wisdom is not in the deep sea. You cannot buy wisdom, not even with gold. But Job tells us how to find wisdom in 28:28, “And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear (respect) of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’”

Let’s move onto Verses 5-8.

2.   The reward of wisdom

⁵ Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
⁶ For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
⁸ He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.

If we respect God, then we shall become wise. God gives his wisdom to us. We are his people, and he guards us. He defends us, and he protects us. Psalm 23 compares God to a man who owns sheep. The farmer looks after his sheep. He provides their food and water. He cares about them. In the same way, God looks after us. When we are in danger, God protects us.

• Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³ He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
⁶ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

From here let’s move onto the journey of life in verses 9-15.

3. The journey of life

⁹ Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.
¹¹ Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.

¹² Wisdom will save you from evil people,
from those whose words are twisted.
¹³ These men turn from the right way
to walk down dark paths.
¹⁴ They take pleasure in doing wrong,
and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.
¹⁵ Their actions are crooked,
and their ways are wrong.

The Bible often compares life to a journey. Abraham’s whole life was a journey. He traveled from Ur to Haran and then to Canaan. ¹⁰ “Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God,” Hebrews 11:10. He did not find this place on earth. ¹⁶ “But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them,” Hebrews [11:16].

Jesus compared life to a journey. ¹³ “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. ¹⁴ But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it,” Matthew [7:13]-14.

The Book of Proverbs also tells us about two ways. In verse 13, evil men walk in dark paths. They hide from the light because light would show up their evil behavior. In verse 15, Solomon says that evil men choose the wrong paths. It is easy to choose the wrong path in the dark! This wrong path is like their evil behavior. Their behavior is like a road that leads to death and hell (verse 18), which we will look at tomorrow.

If we follow God’s wisdom, then our paths are good (verse 9). We are like travelers who choose the right way. We know where we are going. We act fairly. Our decisions are good. This is the right road for life’s journey. It leads to heaven (verse 19), which we will also look at tomorrow.

Today we continued on our Trek of Proverbs and learned about the benefits of wisdom through the search for wisdom and the rewards of wisdom on our journey of life. Think about these points for today, and join us tomorrow as we continue with Proverbs 2 on another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our podcast for today. Remember to listen to your daily dose of wisdom on Wisdom-Trek.com, or subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spreaker, or YouTube so the episodes will be downloaded to you automatically each day. Please share Wisdom-Trek with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter or in person so they can come along with us each day.

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

As we take this Trek 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!