The Benefits of Wisdom: How Not to Play the Ostrich – So far, we have meditated on various benefits of wisdom. Our exploration of the advantages of wisdom has mostly dwelt on what wisdom is able to help one do or become.
Our meditation today shall be on what makes for or facilitates divine acceptance. The best place to be is usually on the side of God. But we cannot say that we are on the LORD’s side when God is not on our side. It takes two to tango; two cannot walk together unless they share agreement or have things in common (Amos 3:3).
It is generally accepted that a good reputation is better than possessions. Although, some may not agree with this notion, the fact that God Himself thinks so underscores the importance of having a good name (Proverbs 22:1).
Our meditation today shall be on the benefits of cheerfulness. And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.”
Faith without patience is like planting a seed and then uprooting the seedling before it has time to produce fruits. If we want to live fruitful lives, we must learn patience (Luke 8:15, James 5:7-8). Even God is patient, and He has made patience one of the built-in features of our universe.
