February 17

“My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.” (Proverbs 8:19-21)

Have you received an inheritance of fine jewelry from a parent or a grandparent? Will you be leaving some of your most valuable jewels or other keepsakes to your children? I had a conversation yesterday with a friend about precious photographs that we have seen in antique stores, obviously not valued much by the families who gave them away. For my part, I am grateful to have a some very old family photos and seek to know now who all the people in the pictures are, and how we are related.

Wisdom promises us an inheritance that is of higher value than anything material we could receive from a family member. But only those who love wisdom will receive “her” gifts-only those who enjoy wisdom’s righteousness and justice are granted this birthright. Those who love Christ and live by his grace are conformed to his character and have the opportunity to walk in wisdom’s path. This is not an easy calling, but one that requires God’s perfect righteousness and justice, which never lapses. Wisdom is given by God, not bought but granted by his undeserved grace with mercy. Just so, the results of Christ’s righteousness and justice, the greatest wisdom possible, is the fruit that fills the treasuries of believers, who are given this unearned inheritance. As John Gills writes in his commentary, “This [fruit] is enjoyed by way of inheritance; it is not purchased, nor acquired, but bequeathed and given to the children of God by their heavenly Father, and comes to them through the death of Christ, the testator, and is forever…Christ now fills their understandings with spiritual knowledge, their souls with grace, their minds with peace and joy, and their hearts with food and gladness; and hereafter he will fill them to full satisfaction with knowledge, holiness, and joy, and will be all in all to them.”

Considering that we, who desire to be wise, are promised this great treasure, by our God who is utterly faithful, why would we instead want the cheap, empty things of the world? We are promised an incorruptible, eternal inheritance—a relationship with Christ. Why not live wisely as those who are secure in him? “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)