I love Proverbs - it is a playpen for type a personalities! I can’t help but think about the book of Ecclesiastes this morning though, as I am reading all of this rich wisdom here in Proverb 28.

Proverbs, taken as a whole, is really a manual for life. That is a phrase often used, incorrectly in my opinion, to describe the Bible as a whole. But, it is a great description of Proverbs. But all the wisdom of Proverbs essentially carries an asterisk by it; Ecclesiastes.  Ironically, most of both of these incredible writings likely have the same author, king Solomon.

Where is Proverbs guides us on wise living, Ecclesiastes remind us that life is full of chance, and that it doesn’t work itself out through a simple math/wisdom equation.  Living with integrity doesn’t mean that it will be easy in our lives and that we will have justice as it relates to wrongs against us. Living with love for others doesn’t mean that I will get loved back. Wise stewarding of my wealth doesn’t mean that I’ll have a lot coming back to me either.

Why then? Why live wisely? Why follow the order that God has laid out in the world?

I think Proverbs iandEcclesiastes taken together answer this for us, though in a roundabout fashion. I think there are two answers to the question, one practical and one more spiritual.

Practically speaking, if choosing between foolish living or wise living, wise living has the greatest potential to bring positive results over the long term whereas foolish living most likely leads me in the wrong direction. So, practically, it makes sense to stack the deck in my favor and to live wisely. It’s essentially a play on probability.  Said another way, you’re much more likely to be successful socking away money in your 401(k) then you are by buying a lottery ticket; one is a plan rooted in wisdom and the other is just hoping it all works out.  so, wisdom is the most practical choice.

Spiritually speaking, the real gem of Ecclesiastes, in my opinion, is that it teaches us the ultimate reward for wise living is not earthly or worldly success, but communion with God.  When we do as God says, we begin to see as God sees. And as we see as God sees, we begin to understand what he is up to in this world around us.  Think back to the garden, as soon as Adam and Eve sinned, the first thing we are told is that they head and they put on their fig leaves.  Sin leads to shame. Shame destroys intimacy. Ultimately, what we want in our hearts is the same thing that God wants, and that is to restore intimacy. Living in wisdom restores that intimacy by removing shame from our lives.  That is the real reward of wise living; reduce shame, increased intimacy with God, and ultimately a joy that is no other way attainable in our lives.

For today, where can I take a step towards wise living with the hope of greater intimacy with God?