Proverbs 9:11-12

Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

According to multiple sources, the Top Ten most stressful things in life are: Childhood Trauma, Death of a Loved One, Divorce, Finances, Job Loss or Trouble, Health Issues, Personal Relationships, Chronically Ill Child, Pregnancy, and Danger. The Book of Proverbs alone speaks directly to eight of these issues and the bible as a whole addresses all of them…in multiple ways and from multiple angles.

One fact needs to be stated clearly when considering the difficult issues of life: Godly wisdom will help you deal with all of them, but is not a guarantee that they will never occur. Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). Trouble comes knocking on everyone’s door. Some of it we bring on ourselves…and other times, it finds us and there is no avoiding it.

So, why pursue Godly wisdom? Or in other words, “WIFM” –  What’s in it for me? Today’s passage gives us a pretty good glimpse. Wisdom will multiply your days – it will help make your time more profitable. Wisdom will add years to your life – by reducing the stress that can be avoided and increasing your joy, both of which have been medically proven to be good for your health. Additionally, this isn’t a job that only seems to benefit your employer of customer. Gaining wisdom isn’t self-sacrificing – it’s self-enhancing. “You will be the one to benefit” this proverb pronounces.

So many people run to the self-help resources offered by celebrities and gurus and PhD’s and television show hosts…but very few run to the ultimate source of help – the Lord God Almighty. If you knew a book had the answers to most if not all of life’s challenges, would you read it? If you knew it’s author was the source of all wisdom and loved you so much that He was willing to die for you, would you pick it up? Hopefully you already do. Hopefully you already are.