November 17, 2017 - - Proverbs 17:16 The price of wisdom

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? KJV

Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom

when he has no sense? ESV

Proverbs 17:16

Two things are here spoken of with astonishment:-- 1. God's great goodness to foolish man, in putting a price into his hand to get wisdom, to get knowledge and grace to fit him for both worlds. We have rational souls, the means of grace, the strivings of the Spirit, access to God by prayer; we have time and opportunity. He that has a good estate (so some understand it) has advantages thereby of getting wisdom by purchasing instruction. Good parents, relations, ministers, friends, are helps to get wisdom. It is a price, therefore of value, a talent. It is a price in the hand, in possession; the word is nigh thee. It is a price for getting; it is for our own advantage; it is for getting wisdom, the very thing which, being fools, we have most need of. We have reason to wonder that God should so consider our necessity, and should entrust us with such advantages, though he foresaw we should not make a right improvement of them. 2. Man's great wickedness, his neglect of God's favour and his own interest, which is very absurd and unaccountable: He has no heart to it, not to the wisdom that is to be got, nor to the price in the use of which it may be got. He has no heart, no skill, nor will, nor courage, to improve his advantages. He has set his heart upon other things, so that he has no heart to his duty or the great concerns of his soul. Wherefore should a price be thrown away and lost upon one so undeserving of it?

Matthew Henry Commentary

If today you are curious about God and the Bible, then do not be a fool. Do not throw away the great opportunity to ask and gain understanding. Look up a Christian friend, or family member or minister, whom you know and respect, and find out about the great gift that God has placed in your hand.

God of love and justice, let me be sensitive to the people around me. If there are any who want to know more about You, stop me from carelessly brushing aside their curiosity. Spirit of God give me the perception to clearly show and teach of Jesus to those who have questions. Jesus, You are not a religion, or a theory, but the Dearest Desire of my heart. Thank You for those people in my life who took the time to share with me their love for You. Deepen my devotion and obedience to You, King of kings and LORD of lords. Amen.