The price of Wisdom

No good thing on Earth is ever earned easy. Everything of value is worth a price…and the price is always high.

In this life, it is easier to get attached with materialism. It seems as though a man’s worth is determined by his economic status. Even if a man dies, people would look into the kind of burial he is given. We are normally attracted to what pleases the eyes. That is what makes us humans. But we are not only humans. We are souls living in a body—a body that eventually withers in the passage of time, a body that will one day return to dust…

Some say that living means enjoying everything the world offers. Be happy and go spree. Indulge in every ‘good’ thing because after all we only have one life to live on Earth. But, do we also think that we also have only one life to live in eternity? And our eternity is determined by who we are inside? We normally judge one another. Yet, whether we like it or not, our judgment is never absolute no matter how right we think we are because beyond our dimension is the One Judge who righteously knows all.

It takes a myriad of bad experiences to learn wisdom. It doesn’t really pay to be on top at all times. Birds relish in the sky as they open their wings to fly. They feed on leaves from trees. God provides for them. They naturally live in comfort. But not all in creation live the way they do. Look at the ants that crawl on the ground. They make themselves busy collecting foods for the rainy days. They crawl heavily carrying their burdens. This is how God teach them to live—in bearing and suffering. The one who lives in comfort at all times never gets wisdom because it is in difficulty that we learn. This difficulty does not apply only to finances but in all aspects of life. The one who underwent plenty of troubles and overcame them by the grace of God becomes wiser. The price of wisdom comes from a box that overflows not in precious jewels—money and the like—all that only beget arrogance. Most of the time, we think we are so blessed if we have them all. But the truth is, they are the lowest form of blessings. When taken with a prideful heart, they are the cheap price of foolishness. Unfortunately, in today’s time many buy into them.

On the other hand, the price of wisdom is paid off by suffering and difficulty. The things that beget a deeper sense of understanding if surpassed by the grace of God. When dealt with humility, they become the source of wisdom.

Now, if wisdom comes not from indulgence, luxury, comfort, and pride, consider the following questions:

Are we willing to overlook an offense for the sake of peace? Do we spend more time on the Word over our favorite TV programs? Do we pray for the salvation of an enemy? Can we suffer in the name of the Lord? Is Jesus our ultimate Idol over anyone else in our lives? Can we give to the poor even when it means you have to live meagerly with what is left? Are we willing to be set apart or do we conform to the world? Do we strive to live for Christ over success? Do we strive for righteousness? Or do we settle as complacent spoiled brat children thinking that God will always forgive our sins even when we don’t repent? Do we strive to put God at the center of our lives regardless of all the bad circumstances that happen every day? Or do we love Him only for the blessings He gives?

Think about it. Our answers to the above-mentioned questions will determine whether or not we are willing to pay the price of wisdom. Wisdom is never a cheap commodity. In fact, it is very expensive because it offers the most priceless reward—an eternity with our Creator. Maybe, only very few can afford it nowadays. Do we belong to the few? (Joseph Claire Celerinos | San Pablo)