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Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7
Why does it cost everything we have to get wisdom and understanding of God? Are we supposed to go into debt enrolling in a theology school? Sell everything we have in order to understand God better?
Actually, the word of God should be given without cost (Isaiah 55:1-3, Revelation 22:17). Rich or poor, anyone who is thirsty for the word of God is able to receive it. So why does the Bible say it costs everything we have? In fact, there is a cost to receiving God’s word–we have to let go of something in order to receive and keep it.
The Cost of Getting Wisdom
When we receive the Word, we may find that it conflicts with other things–things we thought we knew about God, our lifestyle, our pride even. For me, I had to change how I used my time. Before studying the Bible, I didn’t really know that my life of faith had to be just that–my life. Not just a church on Sunday thing, but a daily practice, and my top priority.
I learned that I had to give up more of my time to understand God, and that meant doing less of the other things I wanted to. These are the kinds of things we have to let go of in order to hold onto the words of God. If we stayed full of them, how would there ever be room for what He has for us?
What Apostle Paul Gave Up to Get Something Greater
One good example of this in the Bible is the apostle Paul. He had every reason to be proud and boastful of himself–a “Hebrew of Hebrews.” Paul was passionate for the word, zealous to the point of (wrongfully) persecuting the early church, which he believed to be heresy. He was also faultless in terms of following the Mosaic Law (Philippians 3:4-6). All of these made him respected at that time.
However, after having his eyes opened to the truth of Jesus’ gospel, Paul knew he couldn’t carry all those old things and the gospel. He threw all of it away, calling it all rubbish.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
Philippians 3:7-8
All of his previous accomplishments – a life of hard work, proud moments, and his reputation. From a respected man to one that was hated, persecuted by his own community. This was what it cost for Paul to take up his own cross, following God’s wisdom and understanding of the gospel of Christ.
Though It Cost Everything You Have…
What about you? If God was going to give you the wisdom that leads to your eternal life and salvation, what would you be willing to give up? Status, lifestyle, materialistic greed, incorrect teachings–it’s different for all of us.
Theoretically, we should give up everything for eternity in heaven, but easier said than done. It requires patience and constantly reminding yourself to keep the things of God as top priority. If we make the effort to know the Word, then naturally, we will become more like God and those precious things we held onto won’t be so precious anymore.
Like Paul, we’ll consider them worthless next to the wisdom we received. So let us pray for this kind of heart and ask God for wisdom.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Written by Samantha
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