My Daily Pause

 ¹ My child, listen to what I say 
       and remember what I command you.
 ² Listen carefully to wisdom; 
       set your mind on understanding.
 ³ Cry out for wisdom, 
       and beg for understanding.
 ⁴ Search for it like silver, 
       and hunt for it like hidden treasure.
 ⁵ Then you will understand respect for the Lord, 
       and you will find that you know God.
 ⁶ Only the Lord gives wisdom; 
       he gives knowledge and understanding.
 ⁷ He stores up wisdom for those who are honest. 
       Like a shield he protects the innocent.
 ⁸ He makes sure that justice is done, 
       and he protects those who are loyal to him. –  Proverbs 2:1-8 NCV

Proverbs 2 lists five fruits of wisdom. This first paragraph promises that we will find God in our quest for wisdom.

Read about the second fruit here

Read about the third fruit here

We are expected to search for it in the same way men search for riches. Notice that the Bible teaches that while God makes available what we need, he doesn’t hand it to us. Manna for the Israelites needed to be gathered, the walls of Jericho had to be marched around and salvation is given conditionally (Mark 16:16, Matthew 7:21). In the same way we come to know God through our search for knowledge in the Scriptures.

1 These are the wise words of Solomon son of David, king of Israel.
2 They teach wisdom and self-control;
they will help you understand wise words.
3 They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled
and will teach you to do what is honest and fair and right.
4 They make the uneducated wise
and give knowledge and sense to the young.
5 Wise people can also listen and learn;
even they can find good advice in these words.
6 Then anyone can understand wise words and stories,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord,
but fools hate wisdom and discipline.

I learned of an old technique for better living, better business and better relationships that I have been trying to develop into a habit. The technique is to read the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month and reflect on one or more of the principles given for that day. The idea is that these ageless bits of wisdom can still be used today and will make one a more godly person.

The opening lines of the book tells us just how important these words are.

1 Wisdom calls to you like someone shouting;
understanding raises her voice.
2 On the hilltops along the road and at the crossroads,
she stands calling.
3 Beside the city gates, at the entrances into the city,
she calls out:
4 “Listen, everyone, I’m calling out to you;
I am shouting to all people.
5 You who are uneducated, seek wisdom.
You who are foolish, get understanding.

–NCV Proverbs 8:1-5