Prizing Wisdom

 

Prize wisdom [and exalt her], and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her: “She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty and glory.” (Proverbs 4:8-9)

Although physical exercise is somewhat important it is not as important as godly wisdom or godly living which come with promises

For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of  value  in everything and in every way, since it holds promises for the present life and for the life to come. (Timothy 4:8).

Jesus is Wisdom and let us all agree on this, He will never ask you to do more of something that would take His place or put that thing between Him and you.  Anything He ask you to do will be well-balanced and in agreement with the rest of Scriptures.

We have prized other things so high that wisdom has taken the backseat to our lives.  For example, we prize fitness so high that it is, globally, a $257 billion industry increasing to $435 billion in 2028.  Let us be honest with ourselves, if we are believers, our bodies will pass away but our eternal values will last.  Why do we spend so much time and money on our body instead of prizing wisdom above it all?

If your wisdom does not agree with God, you can safely throw it away and call it “worldly” wisdom because it cannot be both.  Godly wisdom is the one that should be prized.  The apostle James describes worldly wisdom as such in James 3:13-16

Who among you is wise and intelligent?  Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with gentleness and humility of true wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant, and [as a result] be in defiance of the truth…. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist there is disorder [unrest, rebellion] and every evil thing and morally degrading practice.

Then in verse 17 he describes the wisdom from ABOVE which does not encourage expensive diets and exercise and attention to the body…

But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile].  I am not saying that going on a diet is bad, but God has provided all good things for our pleasures.  But what I am saying is to prize godly wisdom highly and exalt her.