Nothing Compares to Christ (Proverbs 3:13-18)
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Proverbs 3:13-18
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
So much richness in these verses, and so little time to expand and highlight it all. These verses emphasize the beauty and blessing that Wisdom is – that Christ is. He’s far better than any material gain, whether silver or gold, mansion or penthouse. He’s more precious than it all.
I love that verse 15 says ‘nothing you desire can compare with’ wisdom.
Nothing compares to Christ.
Then enter verse 16, which, hearing it again, might remind you of the riches and honor and life from Proverbs 22:4. Verse 16 says:
‘Long life is in (wisdom’s) right hand;
in (wisdom’s) left hand are riches and honor.’
Riches and honor and life come from following the Lord. His ways are pleasant, His paths are peace. What a promise there – peace. We all need it, we all want it. Only God can supply it in its fullness and eternalness.
And that leads us to verse 18, where we see another tree, but it’s unlike the one we talked of yesterday. Yesterday we saw ourselves, a tree rooted in pride that bears sin, but Christ is, as verse 18 exclaims, ‘a tree of life to those who lay hold of (Him); those who hold (Him) fast are called blessed.’
These verses start and end with the word Blessed because it encompasses all that Christ is. He is a blessing from beginning to end and every bit the same in between.
But have you laid hold of Him?
Has the tree of your life, rooted in sin, become one rooted in Christ? Have you held fast to life in Him? Do you see Him as more desirable than anything this world could offer?
Let’s pray in light of all of that today.
