Find Wisdom, Find Happiness

Proverbs 3:13 – “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding.”

What makes you truly happy? Perhaps it’s a good day at work, a surprise gift from a friend, a beautiful sunset, or an evening out with your family. Today’s proverb goes a bit deeper though… it says that the person who finds wisdom and understanding is happy. What could that possibly mean? How can wisdom make us happy?

To understand that, we’ll have to go back to Psalm 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”. Wisdom begins with God. He is the author of wisdom. He is the giver of wisdom. The fear of the Lord doesn’t mean being so scared of Him that we move away. Instead, it’s the reverential awe of God that brings us closer to Him. Much like a hiker might be in awe of a majestic mountain as he sets out to climb it.

It’s easy to get wisdom; simply ask God for it (James 1:5). But this isn’t just wisdom to ace a test or complete a project well. Godly wisdom is, “…first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). It will keep you connected to God and help you navigate your life according to His perfect will. Seek wisdom and understanding from the Lord and you will find true happiness in the bargain.