“The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair.”
Proverbs 1:1-3

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”
Genesis 3:4-6

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Have you ever been lured in by “gift shop wisdom”? You know the kind I’m talking about. It’s inspiring thoughts and silly sayings that sound great enough on vacation to take home with you. Dream, plan, do. No pain, no gain. Life’s too hard to drink bad coffee. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Don’t worry, be happy. Whether you bought it or received it as a gift, I’m sure you’ve got at least one mug, t-shirt, keychain, or cheaply crafted tchotchke laying around. But now, looking back, was it worth it to acquire pithy insights and proverbial street smarts this way?

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden wasn’t filled with “gift shop wisdom,” but it might as well have been. God ensured Adam and Eve that gaining truth through a workaround wasn’t worth it. Why did they go after what they perceived as good in the moment instead of trusting their Creator’s goodness? As armchair critics, it’s easy for us to cast stones at the first humans for letting themselves get seduced by the serpent that day. Though, in all honesty, I’m not sure any one of us would pass up a shortcut to gaining godly, hard-won wisdom. It’s easier to buy the mug than live by what’s true.

The book of Proverbs is chock-full of spiritual sayings, many that fit nicely on a t-shirt. But don’t mistake what you read as being cheap. God’s truths are transformational and timeless. And if you’re open to it, living by them can calibrate your moral compass and grow your capacity for discipline and discernment. “Gift shop wisdom” won’t guide you through life, nor does it promise to. On the other hand, God’s Word is worth much more than its weight in gold. Just like Adam and Eve, gaining what’s good requires us to seek the Source and stay the course. Only then will you and I gain wisdom and experience a happiness from our good God that truly lasts.

Próximos pasos

Some say, “A proverb a day keeps the devil at bay.” Okay, no one says this, but did you know there are 31 chapters in Proverbs? Consider digging into one chapter in Proverbs each day this week. Today, start by reading Proverbs 28 and see what truth God draws to your attention and take a worthy risk to live it out.