Wisdom, or Wander?

Some thoughts of Proverbs 17 today.

16Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,
Since he has no heart for it?

24Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,
But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

This spoke to me of the ready availability of wisdom through discernment. All of us can find wisdom, it can be purchased with only our attention and perseverance. In our hearts, we either value the search for wisdom, and recognize its path, or we don't. It may start in the mind as an idea to seek, but must be given substance of feeling in the heart to look for God. Fools certainly have the attention and diligence to follow after folly, and these same qualities could just as easily allow them to achieve wisdom.

And where does all that wasted energy and focus go? Anywhere and everywhere, to the ends of the earth and back. Like some wind, of no substance, puffing across the surface of the land and sea, some ruffled grass, a swaying tree, a white crest wave, and gone.

From our study in Experiencing God (by Blackaby, Claude King and I believe others), I learned that God is always at work around us. Rather than ask for what His will is for our lives, we better serve our own growth (and acquire more wisdom) by seeing how God is at work, and then see how we can join Him in His purposes already in progress around us. He is in our sight already if we have but understanding. If we can't wait to see how He is at work, or want to fill our lives with worldly aims, or our own sense of what's righteous, we may grow like that fool in Proverbs, whose eyes roam to the ends of the earth.

May you gain in that understanding that leads you to His wisdom.