What are the benefits of being wise?

February 23 - March 1, 2025 | Always Peachy Devotionals | God's Principles Week 4

Wisdom is like a fully stocked toolbox.

Or like Batman’s utility belt or like a Leatherman or a Swiss army knife. It has an attachment, a setting, a gadget for every occasion. You always want to have one with you because you never know what trouble you’re going to run into in life.

While you probably can’t call wisdom a “cure all,” it certainly provides the solutions to every problem you might encounter as you go through your day.

No, wisdom doesn’t solve problems for you. You still have to make choices and implement what wisdom says is the right option, and that’s the hard part. Making the tough choice, the hard choice, standing up for what is true and right even if it’s not popular or nice; that’s the challenge, especially in a culture that is so easily offended.

So the real question we ought to be asking is: Is wisdom worth it? Is following wisdom’s way truly as valuable as God says it is? Do the benefits of wisdom really outweigh the challenges with being wise?

That’s what we’re talking about this week. The Book of Proverbs says over and over that being wise is worth it, that being wise is the most important thing, that choosing wisdom is what will honor God. But it does kind of gloss over the cost.

Everything has a cost. The only difference between the cost of wisdom and the cost of foolishness is what you get as a return.

So this last week of February 2025, we are going to dig into what God’s principles tell us that wisdom will create in our lives if we choose it.

• Monday - Something better than wealth (Proverbs 8:10-11)

• Tuesday - Good judgment and discernment (Proverbs 8:12)

• Wednesday - Common sense and success (Proverbs 8:14)

• Thursday - Joy (Proverbs 8:32-34)

• Friday - Life (Proverbs 8:35-36)

Something else that is really important to know about wisdom is that if you look for it intentionally, you’re going to find it. That’s one of the principles God shares with us. If you pursue wisdom, you’ll find it. God even promises that if you ask for wisdom, He will give it to you (James 1:5). But if you make a habit of seeking wisdom and doing wisdom, you will see a change in your life.

So that’s our memory verse this week, Proverbs 8:17.

You might have picked up on the fact that this whole week, we are staying in Proverbs 8. Proverbs 8 is a powerful chapter that personifies wisdom as a woman crying in the streets for the simple to learn from her.

As a culture, we are long overdue for a hearty infusion of wisdom. The kind of wisdom we need is God’s wisdom. Not more education. Not more guidelines on how to be politically correct. Not even more theology or doctrine or Bible verse memorization is going to help us (I say that ironically as I’m obviously recommending a verse for us to memorize this week).

Wisdom isn’t just knowing something; Wisdom is action aligned with truth. So first, we need to know what’s true, and then we can act on it. But no matter which part of that process you’re in, you need wisdom for both steps.

Choose to love wisdom. It won’t always feel right. Sometimes it will feel downright harsh, but truth is rarely gentle and never just nice. Truth by its very definition is exclusive, and it will always divide people.

But being divided isn’t bad, not if the dividing line is what is true. Know what is true. Choose to love wisdom. And you will know what direction to go. You will grasp your purpose. And, Lord willing, you will understand how to love people who don’t agree with you.

Praying for all of you this week.

Amy

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