Proverbs 3

The Paradox of Wisdom

The book of Judges states several times that “in those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” This is the reason that it says in verse 13 that it is a blessing to find wisdom. We are in desperate need of a standard in our lives, and leaning on our own understanding has usually led us to desolate, isolated places that leave us far from experiencing blessing. Finding wisdom is worth far more than physical comfort, because the writer knows that physical comforts can be available and still not provide the blessing for which we long. Verse 19 states that by wisdom the Lord founded the earth, which means He followed His own principles when He spoke the world into order out of chaos. Who knows us better than the one Who made us? Who knows better how to make life work than the One Who made life in the first place?

We have been deceived by the prince of this world. “Lean on your own understanding of how to live,” he says to us. “You were hurt when you opened yourself up to love in the past; make sure you stay protected, or you will hurt again, and you could not bear to hurt like that again!” But wisdom says, “love again and you’ll experience all for which you were created!” It might look like death, and it might feel like death, but loving again, really lavishly loving, produces real life!

--Henry Bieber