What Matters?

 

“Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 3:15 NLT) 

What matters to each of us varies depending on our current needs and circumstances. A starving person may say food. A sick person may say health. An unemployed man may be desperate for a job. A lonely woman may crave a relationship. A bored teenager may want entertainment. What matters to me might not be what matters to you. In fact, what is important to me today might not be what is important to me tomorrow.

Can what is truly significant be this subjective? 

According to the Book of Proverbs, wisdom matters. It is more precious than rubies; nothing else you desire can compare. Spiritual wisdom has nothing to do with intelligence or education. A wise person reverently orients himself toward God. He is willing to examine his character, beliefs, motives, and actions and make the necessary changes to stay on the right path. 

The opposite of wisdom is foolishness. A foolish person can be intelligent but disoriented. He is turned around and moving away from God. He senses that he is lost and unfulfilled, but he doesn’t want to change course. He insists on charting his own path, even if he is headed off a cliff. 

The difference between wisdom and folly is orientation. All it takes is one turn. 

“Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.” (Proverbs 1:7 GNT)