There is a saying, “Eat dessert when it’s worth the calories!” Wisdom is just like that decadent dessert, only it’s always worth it.

It is important to know the anatomy of wisdom; this passage of Scripture lays it out for us. We are told what it looks like and what it doesn’t. If the words coming out of our mouth ring of arrogance or boasting, wisdom is absent.

When my oldest daughter was ten months old she became frighteningly ill. I had worked for doctors and determined that when I had children I was not going to bother a doctor over a simple runny nose or diaper rash. So, when Natalie’s runny nose turned into a thick green/grayish discharge and her vomiting persisted through the night turning into a high fever the next morning, instead of calling a doctor I called a nurse friend. She wisely advised me that five minutes of embarrassment was better than a lifetime of regret.

I remember a time in ministry where I wanted out! I had been led to believe I was damaged goods; broken beyond repair. The Lord used a frail little old lady to remind me of my worth. Every week at church she would intentionally seek me out, grab my face in her hands and squish my cheeks. Then she would stare me in the eyes and say, “You are precious to Jesus!” She did this week after week, not having a clue of what I was going through.

When God first extended his call in my life as a speaker the first thing I did was question him to make sure he knew who he was dealing with. I had a speech impediment as a child. I hated public speaking! I cringed when I had to take it in college. Full of self-doubt and fear, I was sure I’d written the book on every excuse for opposing God’s call. That is, until I read through Moses’ story. Moses and I became well-acquainted through that time.

Do you remember being at the waterfront at camp sitting on the beach listening to the lifeguard’s instructions for water safety? Do you remember the one thing that was ultra-important as you entered into the waters? Make sure you have your buddy! Then you would go on your merry way into the designated swim area. But every now and then the whistle would sound and the lifeguard would holler “Buddy check!”

I’m sure, like me, you’ve had experiences where you are asked to relay a message to someone that is not exactly what the person wants to hear. Not to mention that you’re simply the messenger.

Moses and Aaron experienced this firsthand. God had given them a message to deliver on his behalf that would affect the future of the entire tribe of Israel.

Psalm 84 comes from the depth of the psalmist’s heart. It describes the kind of worship expressed in the Westminster Catechism: “The chief end of man is to love God and to enjoy him forever.”

Worship is not something that should be pulled out of us.