Series in Proverbs - Blessed With the Treasure of the Lord

 

Blessed With the Treasure of the Lord

Proverbs 3:13-20

Many are those who can look back at their lives and see the blessings and benefits of the Lord Almighty, and count their blessings as one counts the valuable things of life. But even more blessed are those who have made God their Lord and Savior, in whom is the provider of wisdom, understanding, discernment, love, peace, and security, of these treasures they are priceless and incomparable. As the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to pray, I’m asking God to bless those who read the lessons as well. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. “ (Eph. 3:16-20)

Solomon, was opening God’s treasure chest again to show his children the blessings and benefits of pursuing and treasuring the wisdom of God. So let’s read the first portion of the text. “Blessed is the one who has found wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding. For her benefit is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than gold. She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are very pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful. She is like a tree of life to those who grasp onto her, and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed.”

Solomon again exclaims the wonderful matchless benefits and blessings of seeking God’s wisdom, for it is more valuable than all the precious items that man craves and desires. First, wisdom needs to be sought after and found, and once you have it, it bestows the understanding of the ways and insights of God that are revealed by His Word and Spirit. "Let wisdom enter your heart, and let your mind grasp it. For wisdom is more valuable than pearls; no price can measure its worth. My son, listen to my counsel; pay attention to my advice. Do not let it slip from your mind. Then you will be wise. For wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom. And get understanding; do not forget it." (Prov. 4:5-7 NIV)

Solomon who possessed many precious stones and exquisite gems, saw that the true wealth in this life was in the wisdom and understanding from God. Gold and silver were dross in comparison.

Second, Solomon had never denied himself anything as he wrote in Ecclesiastes “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve,

everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (2:10-11 NIV)

So He reflected back over his life, for it was wisdom that allowed long life, and with its use came the precious things of this world, its pleasures and also its favors, its peacefulness and its pleasantries. He compared it to the tree of Life that his father David had written about, the one  planted by the river. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. (Psalms 1:2-3 NIV) This tree of life symbolizes a person who was revitalized and faced eternal life likened to the Garden of Eden and in eternity in the New Jerusalem, the wise person’s life is like a tree that bears spiritual fruit and healing. Like the Tree of Life that stands on both sides of the river that flows from the throne of God and the Lamb.(Rev. 22:1-2 NIV)

Application - There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t rely on the wisdom of God in making decisions or seeking guidance in a matter of importance. And like Solomon and the many other godly people who have been led by faith in our Lord God, I look to the Lord for the greatest treasures that come from the heavenly throne. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” (James 1:17-18 NIV)

God has given us His Spirit to all who believe in Him and follow in His ways, and the apostle Paul unfolded this mystery for us. “These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” (1 Cor. 2:10-14 NEB)

There will always be those who will not seek God’s ways, for the proverbs are full of examples. But I want everyone to seek God’s wisdom, and not after the wealth, fame, and beauty of this fading world. For all of this, as Solomon realized, are but vanity and the chasing after the wind. “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after the wind.” (Ecc. 1:14 ESV) For the blessed are those who have obtained God’s gifts and treasures, for their life will be blessed with the abundance of the fruit of the Spirit, the treasured fruit from the tree of life. They will be like a healing balm to those who listen and regard God’s salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ

 "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases." "Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." (Ps. 103:2-3; Jer. 17:14 NIV)

The healing of the souls and spirit, is just as valuable as the healing of the flesh, for healing evokes the soothing and restoration power of God to those who accept His salvation finding comfort and healing, and the leaves and fruit of these lives will bring joy, peace, and eternal blessings. 

Last, Solomon compares wisdom to the essential of creation. So let’s read the final portion of the text. “By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth; he established the heavens by understanding. By his knowledge the primordial sea was broken open, so that the clouds drip down dew.”

Solomon reflecting on the wisdom that God had used when creating the universe and all of its complications and intricacies. For God used wisdom in establishing the foundations for all that there is in the universe. In Solomon’s search for understanding of everything, he realized the need for a firm foundation in life, for without it everything would crumble. “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” (Prov. 24:3-4 NIV) For God used wisdom to set the heavens in place, all the stars with various planets orbiting, in sync, rotating in perfect rhythm. Each in its place throughout the universe. And on the planet that man was to dwell, God established the deepest parts and the borders of the great waters that were to never exceed their boundaries. “I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was constantly at his side.

I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence.” (Prov. 8:27-30 NIV) and the clouds that carried water, made by water, to the ferocious storms, to the daintious dew that sits on the pedal or the softest flower or the finest grass. God used wisdom in creating them all. 

Solomon again points his children to obtain wisdom and cling to the wisdom of God, for in all the treasures and pleasures of this world, nothing compares to wisdom and understanding.

Application - I love to use my hands to create things, whether with wood or metal. I find satisfaction in the finishing of the project. I rebuilt a play area, with swings, slide, small climbing wall, sand box, and fire pit with benches. Then along came a stiff seventy mph wind, I did lose some sand, but the structure held perfectly. I think about the wisdom that God used in creating all that there is in the universe, including us, and I stand in awe. For He makes everything good, with a firm foundation. This is also how He established our salvation, through His Son, the foundation cornerstone, and all the church is built on Him. For it is all by His knowledge, purpose and will that the church is being built to withstand even the vilest winds and torrents of the devil. “...bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.”

(Eph. 3:9-12 NIV)

In closing, what are you seeking after, what are the treasures that you are trying to obtain? God has a plan and a purpose for everything, and He has a purpose and plan for your life as well. Will you seek wisdom, and be built on a solid foundation? God is giving us time, but He is also commanding us to choose wisely and expeditiously. Choose Godly wisdom today, and receive the divine healing of soul, spirit, and body from the One who has created you.

As always, I want to end with presenting the gospel in the form of the ABC’s of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ for salvation. For Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. Thank you. 

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com