In my January 2 devotional I stressed eight spiritual imperatives Solomon gave his son regarding the pursuit of godly wisdom. They were:
Proverbs 2:1-4 – “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide [treasure] my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after [pursue] knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding [insight]; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest [diligently] for her as for hid treasures;”
Notice the initiative for seeking; pursuing and searching for wisdom belongs to the son. Solomon knew, as much as he wanted his son to be a wise and understanding king, his son would have to determine in his heart to be that man. Good fathers long for their sons to be wise men; however, every son must determine the man he will be.
In today’s devotional, Solomon states two rewards that come to the man who pursues and applies godly wisdom. The first reward of godly wisdom is an intimate knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:5 – “Then shalt thou understand [perceive; regard; consider] the fear [reverential worship] of the LORD [Jehovah; Eternal, Self-existent God], and find [attain; get; acquire] the knowledge of God.”
The majority of Christians are content with knowing about God. Go to Sunday School and a worship service and many feel they have done their part in knowing and serving God. Sadly, few professing Christians have the longing or discipline to know God personally and intimately through the study of His Word. Paul’s challenge to Timothy regarding the study of the Bible is one we should all heed.
2 Timothy 2:15 – “Study [discipline] to shew [present] thyself approved [acceptable] unto God, a workman [laborer; teacher] that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [correctly; making a straight cut; correctly dissecting] the word of truth.”
The second reward of wisdom is a right relationship with God.
Proverbs 2:6 – “For the LORD giveth [deliver; grant] wisdom [skill; shrewdness; ability to make right choices]: out of his mouth cometh knowledge [perception; cunning] and understanding [discretion; skill in reason; wisdom].”
Like the light of a lighthouse pierces the fog and darkness of the night, the wisdom imparted by the study of God’s Word is “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
One of the greatest decisions you will ever make is to become a disciplined student of God’s Word. I challenge you to study, meditate and memorize God’s Word for the reward of such a discipline is both temporal and eternal.
Psalm 1:1-3 – “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of 
the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Copyright 2015 – Travis D. Smith