Wisdom, The Principal Thing - Part 1: Wisdom's Worth

INTRODUCTION
 
We are beginning a new series today on the subject of WISDOM. I am extremely excited that the Lord has led us to camp on this subject over the next few months because the wisdom of God is such an important part of our lives.
 
Now most believers do not put this subject at the top of their “playlists,” and I for one have been guilty of that. But I have seen recently just how important the wisdom of God is to our lives, and it is MUCH more important than we realize.
 
But the Lord showed me that the reason precious few Christians get excited about this topic is because:
 
a. They don’t think they need it. In other words, they think they are just fine, they know what they are doing, etc. Most people are deceived into thinking this, but the truth is - when we see what the fruit of wisdom is, we will recognize that we need more wisdom in our lives. And that leads me to the second point…
b. They don't see the value of it. You see, if we saw how valuable wisdom is and all of the benefits it yields in us, we would hunger and thirst for more of it. Yes, if we saw that with wisdom comes all of these other things that we seek after, we would seek wisdom instead.
 
But the truth is this - we all need much more wisdom than we currently possess. There is not a person that I know, who cannot stand to have more of the wisdom of God operating in their lives. And in today’s message, I will prove this very thing to you.
 
THE PRINCIPAL THING
 
But first, let’s begin in Proverbs chapter 4 and we are going to look at verses 5-9:
 
Proverbs 4:5-9 says, “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”
 
I want you to notice that in verse 7, Solomon - a man who had certainly acquired wisdom from the Lord - said that wisdom is the principal thing. No, not love, not faith, not grace. He said wisdom is the principal thing.
 
So, what does that mean? Well, the phrase “principal thing” literally describes in the Hebrew language something that is the head or at the top. It describes something that is first or something that is at the beginning. So, some good translations of this phrase then would be that wisdom is “the first thing” or it’s “the top thing.”
 
Most of us, when we hear the word “principal,” we think of the director of a school. This position is generally called “principal” because they are the head teacher or the head-honcho (if you would). This word “principal” is also where we get the term “principalities” from, which are commonly a reference in the New Testament to the highest-ranking demons in the kingdom of darkness. So, they are the top-ranked class of demons in Satan’s kingdom.  
 
In fact, the Hebrew word that is used here in Proverbs 4:7 is the same word that is commonly translated as “first-fruits.” Now the giving of “first-fruits” was when the children of Israel gave the first, and therefore, the best of their harvest. So, when we think of the giving of “first-fruits,” we think of giving our first and our best. Therefore, we can clearly see that Solomon was saying that wisdom is the first & best thing! In other words, it is at the top of all things that we could acquire from the Lord.
 
Now that is a pretty strong statement, isn’t it? Some would argue this, saying that other virtues, such as love, faith or grace are the principal thing. But right here in the Bible we have a pretty concrete statement that wisdom is at the front of the line and the top virtue we could possess!
 
Of course, one could make the case that agape love and the righteousness of faith were not introduced yet when this was written. Yes, even though love & faith were mentioned in the Old Testament, they certainly were not emphasized until the New Testament. But either way you look at it, wisdom is at the very least near the front of the line of all the virtues that we could acquire. However, I believe the Lord would say it this way: Love is the greatest thing, faith is the necessary thing, and wisdom is the principal thing. 
 
So, what I want to do today is show you from the Scriptures why: I want to show you why wisdom is so important and valuable in our lives - for the Scriptures have much to say about this. And as you see the value of wisdom and what she provides in our life when we acquire her, you will see how you certainly need more of her in your life.
 
VALUING WISDOM
 
So, let’s first of all, look down at verses 8-9 and we will begin to find out what wisdom brings with her:
 
Solomon went on to say, “Exalt her, and she will promote you…” Do you desire to be promoted? Maybe in your job or your calling? This verse tells you how promotion comes. It doesn’t come from the east or from the west; promotion comes from the Lord (Psalm 75:6-7). But does that mean that He is just picking and choosing whomever He wants to exalt? No! Again, this verse says that when we exalt wisdom, we will be “exalted” (i.e. promoted). So, maybe a problem with many is because they have not exalted wisdom - seeing her true value and importance, and living like that is true - they have failed to be promoted. Just maybe.
 
Then Solomon goes on to say that - “She will bring you honor, when you embrace her…” Could you stand to receive more honor in your life - more respect, more love, held in a higher esteem? Well, the Bible tells us that this honor is brought to you and I when we embrace wisdom. Now to embrace her is another way of saying that we love wisdom and desire to hold on to her - a far cry from rejecting and devaluing her in our life.
 
So, honestly, ask yourself the questions - Do I exalt wisdom? Do I embrace her? In other words, do I lift her up, holding her in high esteem? Do I love her by embracing her and not forsaking her (Compare Vs. 6)? To most believers, this is not on their radar to do this. But should it be? If you desire things like honor and promotion, it should!
 
And that is the first thing we need to do - begin to exalt and embrace her. This describes simply just holding her in higher esteem than we currently do. And the awesome thing is, by our simply valuing wisdom in our hearts, we begin to attract her. And then when we obtain her, she brings with her all manner of good things in our life.
 
So, let’s look at some of those things now:
 
Solomon goes on to say, “She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.” Now this is obviously symbolic. Solomon is not talking about a physical ornament or crown being placed on our head. And thank God - for the grace and glory that wisdom herself brings to us is worth far more than jewels, silver and gold.
 
It seems like we have some Scriptures that stress this point 😊 Let’s look at some of them:
 
Proverbs chapter 8 (which we will look at further in a moment) says in verses 10-11, “Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. Then in verse 19, wisdom says of herself: “My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.”
 
Proverbs 16:16 says, “How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver!”
 
Job said in Job 28:12-19, “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ It cannot be purchased for gold, nor can silver be weighed for its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx or sapphire. Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.”
Finally, look over at Proverbs chapter 3 and you will see another reference that echoes Proverbs 8:10:11:
 
Proverbs 3:13-18 says, “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left-hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.”
 
Notice, first of all, that this man or woman who finds wisdom is a “happy” man or woman. How many people out there are seeking happiness, yet they are looking for it in natural things. That is not where we find it, saints! This Scripture says that happiness is found in finding true and godly wisdom.
 
But notice that this passage of Scripture says that this wisdom has “proceeds.” So, what are proceeds? It describes income, revenue and profits. In other words, when we find wisdom, we will see some income, revenue and profits in our lives.
 
And these proceeds are more than just natural, tangible blessings (even though they certainly include that). Solomon goes on to say that “her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the (natural) things you may desire cannot compare with her.”
 
Now that is more than enough witnesses to establish us in the truth that wisdom should be desired more than all of these other things we see as so precious. Yes, wisdom is more valuable than any natural thing we could desire.
 
So, let that sink in. The Bible says that acquiring wisdom is better than acquiring silver, fine gold, rubies and anything else we might desire in this world! It says that rubies and any other precious metal or stone are worth less than wisdom. Therefore, it says that it is better to acquire wisdom than to acquire all of these precious natural things.
 
So, don’t you reckon we should be spending some more time seeking her than we do? Amen to that! She is more precious and valuable than anything we could possess on this earth!
 
But a good question then is - why. Why is getting wisdom better than getting all of this prosperity and promotion?
 
WISDOM’S WORTH
 
Well, let’s look at some more of these benefits of obtaining wisdom by looking at Proverbs chapter 8, where we have a chapter of hearing from wisdom herself, and where she explains the benefits of us obtaining her.
 
Beginning in verse 15, wisdom declares, “By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.” (Proverbs 8:15-21).
 
So, notice what comes with wisdom: it is the very things that we have just seen that wisdom is more valuable and precious than - riches and wealth! In other words, we see that one of the reasons that wisdom is worth more than all the gold, silver and precious stones that we could desire here on the earth is because with wisdom comes these valuables. Amen!
 
Now this should remind us of a very familiar story in the Bible in 2 Chronicles chapter one, where God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon asked first for wisdom (and also knowledge) so that he could effectively lead God’s kingdom. Well, God then said to him that because he didn’t ask for riches, wealth, honor, the life of his enemies or long life that He would grant him the wisdom and knowledge, but also give him the riches, wealth and honor too!
 
You see, the reason Solomon received from the Lord the riches and honor along with the wisdom was because, as these verses say, they come as a by-product of wisdom. Amen!
 
Then, look down at Proverbs 8:32-36 and notice some more benefits of getting wisdom: She goes on to say, “Now therefore, listen to me, my children: for blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me (i.e. wisdom) finds life and obtains favor from the Lord; but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.”
 
So, now we are seeing that blessed is the man or woman who receives instruction from wisdom and whoever finds wisdom, “finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.”
 
Are you experiencing all the “life” that God says is yours? You know, we just spent months talking about the good life that God has prearranged for all of us to live. So, we are not that far off subject here - for this Scripture says that we find this life when we find wisdom.
 
But this passage also says that when we find wisdom, we obtain favor from the Lord! So, again, ask yourself the following questions: Have you found that good, quality of life that God says is yours? Have you obtained all the favor you desire from the Lord? Or, better yet, ask this question: Do others see you as truly finding life and obtaining favor from the Lord? If not, then your new goal in life should be - getting wisdom! Amen?
 
Then someone might say, “Yeah well, these life favor, honor, riches and wealth are just not that important to me. I just am happy to live a good, full life.” Well, that’s why Solomon goes on to say back over in Proverbs 3:16-18 that “length of days are in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honor.”
So, if you don’t care much for what is in wisdom’s left hand, seek her for what’s in her right hand, for “her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
 
How many of you would like more pleasant and peaceful paths? They come through wisdom! “She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.” Friends, a happy, pleasant, peaceful life is found in walking in the wisdom of God.
 
So, whatever it is that you seek in life, whatever it is that you desire, it is found in getting God’s wisdom. Amen!  
 
CONCLUSION
 
So, do you remember that I told you that I was going to prove to you that you and I have a need for wisdom by answering the question of how valuable wisdom is? Let me ask you a few questions:

1. Do you have more than enough riches and wealth in your bank accounts?
2. Have you obtained great favor from the Lord?
3. Are you constantly being honored and receiving promotions?
4. Are you a happy person?
5. Are you on your way to living a long peaceful and pleasant life?

 
If you cannot answer a definite YES to all of these questions, then you can apparently stand to have more wisdom in your life - because we’ve learned that all of these things come with acquiring wisdom from above! Amen!
 
So, as we begin to go through this series and learn more and more about wisdom, I encourage you - Get wisdom!
 
“Well, how do I get it, pastor?” We will get more into this in the coming weeks, but did you know that the Lord is so good that He has given us a book that is all about the wisdom of God. It’s called the Book of Proverbs.
 
So, as we are going through this series, I encourage you to spend time studying proverbs. You can read one chapter a day and generally cover the entire book in month. Shannon and I have started a Bible study together, where we are going through this book together. And we encourage you to do so as well.
 
Church, begin to seek the Lord for wisdom and make it your new life-goal - to obtain wisdom from God! Amen.