Read
–26–
13Honey is good for you,
my children,
and it tastes sweet.
14Wisdom is like honey
for your life—
if you find it,
your future is bright.
Reflect
We need to remind ourselves that sweetened food is a modern phenomenon. In Old Testament times food only rarely came sweetened. Honey stood out as a treat, refreshingly different from the rest of the diet. Imagine that rich dessert most of us occasionally enjoy. Wisdom is like this special treat. It brightens our lives with its goodness and makes life richer.
We have been reflecting together on these proverbs for ten Sundays. Sometimes their demands have seemed stiff. Wisdom is not always the easy way, but it does make life substantial, meaningful, purposeful, more secure and good. It is worth pursuing. Considering the stiff part of the path, we remind ourselves that demand apart from the grace of our Lord Jesus becomes harsh and wearing. Hard roads are best travelled with a sense of adventure, solidarity with others on this road and laughter at the challenges overcome. Grace and support for one another are much more important than demand. High expectations are only suitable when they are essential to embrace the way of wisdom, of flourishing. All these thoughts particularly apply in raising our children.
Is wisdom, then, rare? Sometimes it seems so. Yet, it is not hard to discover. The Bible consistently unfolds this path for us as we read and live into its story. We can also companion with others who have learned much insight from the school of experience. Wisdom can readily be found, if we choose to pursue it. So, we rejoice that “if you find it, your future is bright.”
Respond
God of joy, you look on human pain with compassion and restore the broken. You also direct our hearts to the way of wisdom that we may avoid much pain and flourish instead. Help us seek and find that path of joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Axel Schoeber
Axel Schoeber has been an elementary teacher; a Baptist pastor for 27 years in Jasper, Calgary, Penticton and Victoria; and is now Associate Professor of Supervised Ministry at Carey Theological College in Vancouver. He supervisors the field education of pastors and others preparing for ministries and teaches Reimagining the Educational Mission of the Church and Baptist Identity. He directs the Mentored Ministry program for the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada, and loves his family. Publications: ‘“Christian Society”: A More Influential Concept Than Often Understood?’ http://www.csrs.uvic.ca ‘John Calvin and the “Still-born” Third Option in the French Reformation’ in Calvin@500: Theology, History, and Practice, Richard R. Topping and John A. Vissers, ed. (Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick, 2011)