Proverbs 16:16 English Standard Version (ESV) How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

If you had to choose between wisdom and understanding, which would you chose?

Gold trumps silver so choose wisdom.

What is wisdom without understanding? That sounds a little like blind obedience. Luckily for us it is not an either or situation. Wisdom should temper understanding. We are not to gain knowledge without consideration of consequences. That practice got us kicked out of Eden. That is a good lesson.

Yesterday needy was in reference to relationship. We have everything we need to have this relationship with our creator. While that is the most import aspect of life, it is not the only aspect of living this life with others. Wisdom in relationship with others will allow us to escape unpleasant consequences.

Can we find the words to help others that will not be received as offensive or intrusive? Wisdom says get to know your neighbors before giving them advice. Open relationships can lead to open dialogue which can lead to understanding which will allow wisdom room to work.

Now comes the difficult part. What is our motivation is these relationships? Over the years I have seen relationships fade into nothing because there was no clear understanding on my part for my motivation in that relationship. Even within the body of Christ there will be a defining moment when the motivations behind those relationships is revealed. Do not be surprised if upon that discovery the other might think, “I don’t need that.”

If we are to grow in Christ according to His will a certain amount of grace must accompany each relationship. We may grow apart because we do not all grow in Christ at the same rate. We are not responsible for another’s relationship with Christ. It is possible to grow out of certain relationships.

That does not mean we stop loving them. Wisdom takes over.

Proverbs 30:8 English Standard Version (ESV) Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,

This is a great prayer. Over the years my ideas about what I need have changed. Part of the reason for that is maturity, part of it circumstances. What I failed to recognize is that God created us to be needy.

God does everything with purpose and being needy has its purpose. What I need and what I want are two distinct things and easy to confuse the emotions which were also given to us with purpose.

Adam needed a close personal relationship with God and had it in the best way possible. Adam didn’t realize he needed it until he lost if due to what he wanted. We often do not recognize what we need until we lose it. That thought can go down a deep dark hole if it is allowed to be explored. So let us not go there.

Luke 10:40-42 English Standard Version

⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but [only] one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

I added [only] to the ESV because other version point to Mary’s action of hanging on every Word as being the only thing necessary. That does not mean we want more, we just do not “need” them.

John 1:16-17 English Standard Version

¹⁶ For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The indwelling Christ is complete and there is nothing lacking in us that we need. We have received everything we need to temper and control what we want. When Jesus said “this is my body, take, eat” He was answering the prayer from Proverbs 30:8.