The Price of Success

Proverbs 18:1 (KJV) ¹ Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

John Burroughs said and my Dad often quoted in a Dutch kind of way;

 For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice - no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.

Solomon writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God this Proverb concerning gaining and attaining wisdom in our lives.

1.         You Must Crave Wisdom:

The word desire is the word used for craving.  It is the word used for appetite.  In other words there must be a strong desire for wisdom before one will pay the price to obtain it. 

In Reformers Unanimous I work with many people suffering from varied addictions.  One thing is common and that is how much they desire and crave their addiction.  The craving of addiction must be replaced by an even stronger desire for Jesus Christ.

In John 8:32 Jesus teaches;  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

According to John 14:6 Jesus said that he is the truth.  Connecting the two teachings we learn that in order to have freedom over sin of any kind we must know Jesus Christ.  The first step in knowing Jesus Christ is desire.

2.         You Must Disconnect from the World:

The word separate means to disconnect, disunite, to unplug.  In other words, if one is to gain wisdom they must first disconnect from the influence of the world.  The world is those people, places, and beliefs that are contrary to the Word of God.  It is the source of feeding our fleshly (worldly) appetites.  It is plain and simple giving up that which is sinful and not associating with those who intentionally practice sinful habits.

For there to be change, there has to be change! 

3.         You Must Seek Wisdom:

The word seek means to go after, to look for, to follow.  Wisdom does not seek you, you must seek it. 

Matthew 7:7 (KJV) ⁷ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV) ¹³ And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Proverbs 8:17 (KJV) ¹⁷ I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Wisdom is defined as living life as if there is a God.  It is knowing the Bible and living it.  It is applying the principles of God’s Word to daily life.  Here in Proverbs 18 God gives us the road map to finding wisdom in our lives. 

This verse practically applied would indicate a need in all of our lives to read, study, memorize and meditate on God’s Word each day.  It would indicate a need to pray and seek God’s help in applying His Word to our daily lives.  It would require reading books that inspire and teach us concerning living the Christian life.  It would compel us to faithfully attend a church where the Word of God is preached and taught.