(Proverbs 24:3-4) “Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding is it established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” These are some of my favorite verses within the entire bible. They give me so much encouragement day by day to choose to live in the way of wisdom. “Through wisdom…”

It is only through wisdom, for it can only be through wisdom. The opposite of wisdom? Well, Proverbs tells us that too. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." When our own intuition or desires oppose the way of wisdom, it does not lead us into the path of life and goodness. Wisdom is the ability to apply the information we gain.

“And by understanding… “

Understanding is key. Knowing the “when” and “how” but lacking the understanding of why can completely derail life. Having the foreknowledge of the “why” can open us up to acquiring more knowledge and encourage us to apply it. The “why” is clearly defined: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." And furthered by Ecclesiastes, “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man."

“And by knowledge…”

Wisdom and knowledge go hand in hand. Knowledge is the acquisition of information. Remove one, and the other becomes useless. We cannot apply knowledge we have not gained. The encouragement here is to continue to learn and to gain as much useful information as possible so that we may better apply it in order to live a good life.

The Didache helps to summarize human life described in the gospels into two paths. The way of life, and the way of death. The means by which we choose to live our lives ultimately lead to those two ends. Life, as we well know, is made of many small decisions. Possibly hundreds of millions of small decisions can be made in a single lifespan. The lens by which we view the action needed to make these small decisions can lead to a “small” path of life/death outcome. Life lived in wisdom produces many small “path of life” like outcomes, ultimately, itself. being the path of life.

Dear reader, focus and pray on these areas: Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge. If we learn to master these areas (through God’s help), we can receive and experience the blessings that come at the end of the verse:

“…shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

Choose wisdom, pray for help, and live in the way of life. Do not live in the way that seems right or justifiable to us, for the way thereunto is death.

May God bless and keep thee.

Amen.