Choose Life

KEY VERSE: “Wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” —Proverbs 8:11

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 8:1-11,33-36

IN THE OPENING verses of our lesson God speaks to us concerning his great attribute of wisdom. The questions posed in verse 1 clearly have but one answer—that being, “Yes.” What wisdom has to say is too important to be hidden or uttered only in private, and beginning with verse 4, she speaks, saying, “Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.”

Wisdom’s cry is an invitation to all, but especially to the “simple” (vs. 5), those of a humble and teachable disposition of heart. The wisdom of God is understood by few of mankind in this present world. Most all have their own ‘wisdom’, based in large part on selfishness and pride, which ‘wisdom’ is not from God. The Apostle Paul states, “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”—I Cor. 3:19

Those whom God is seeking are such as Paul describes: “Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”—I Cor. 1:26-29

In verses 6-9 of our lesson, God reminds us that his wisdom is beyond reproach, teaching only righteousness, and speaking only truth. There is no wickedness nor sin of any kind contained therein. Those that know and understand the true character of God see plainly the immutability of his wisdom.

This being the case, we should desire to obtain this wisdom more than anything of this world. Wisdom says, “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”—vss. 10,11

If we truly believe that God is the great Creator of the universe, and gaze at the marvels of his workmanship, both in the heavens and on earth, such a faith should realize that a wisdom far greater than ours stands behind these created works. The greatest minds of today’s modern society cannot even approach the wisdom displayed by God through his glorious Creations. As the psalmist says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.”—Ps. 19:1,2

Our lesson points out that by choosing the wisdom of God, we are in reality choosing life. (Prov. 8:35) None of us would choose death. All want to live. And so to obtain life, and that in abundance, requires that we cast aside the wisdom of this world, the wisdom of man, and obtain God’s wisdom. Another way of saying this is that we must grow into the character-likeness of our great Creator, exhibiting his attributes.

At the present time, though, we cannot do this as perfectly as we would desire, since we are in a fallen, imperfect condition. However, we are promised that by faith in Jesus as our Redeemer, he will make up for our lack in the development of this attribute. The Apostle Paul says: “Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom.”—I Cor. 1:30

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