Charles Duhigg, in his book The Power of Habit, calls them "keystone habits." These are single habits or patterns that, once successfully established, will "pay forward" and help us create other positive, productive habits and patterns in our lives.
It can be something apparently small. Did you know, for instance, that people who have the keystone habit of making their bed in the morning tend to be more organized and focused in other areas of their lives--making them more successful than the general population?
It can also be something very big. Making a habit of searching for God's wisdom is one of those keystone habits, according to Solomon, the author of Proverbs. It's extremely profitable to find and hold on to wisdom, he says. In fact, "nothing you desire can compare with her" is Solomon's big claim for the Lord's wisdom.
Really? Nothing?
That's what Solomon says. And he guarantees that blessings will follow our acquisition of that wisdom.
As you'll see in just a moment, Solomon makes a lot of promises about wisdom. They are huge promises. The thing is, right now in our daily readings (see below), we are also reading the book of Job. So we know that sometimes these blessings are not received immediately. Sometimes, in fact, big blessings from the past can even be stripped away.
That's why it's important to remember what Paul tells us in the book of 2 Corinthians: "For we live by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV). And that applies here too. We seek God's wisdom and its accompanying blessings by faith. Even when we don't see the results right away, we know that they will come. If they don't come today, then tomorrow they will. If they don't come tomorrow, then next week, next month or next year.
And even if they never come in this life, faith in Christ teaches us that they will certainly come in eternity. So find wisdom, and hold it fast!
"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed" (Proverbs 3:13-18, NIV).
Jesus, I believe that when I find your wisdom, I find everything. Your word is the one thing necessary. Bless me with your wisdom as I read your word and put it into practice in my life--by faith.
Our Bible reading for Wednesday, January 28, is Job 8:1 - 10:22, Matthew 19:16-30 and Proverbs 3:11-20.
Header image based on "Bible" by Sebastian, CC by 2.0