Journal for today January 23

The trade of wisdom is better than the trade of money or silver.

Prov 3:14 KJV For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
NET For her benefit is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than gold.
The Hebrew word used for merchandise, sachar, means anemporium, abstractly, profit (from trade). In BDB: traffic, gain, profit, gain from merchandise, a. traffic, gain from traffic.
The root word is sachar, which means to travel round (specifically as a pedlar).
BDB: to go around, go about, travel about in, go about in trade, a. (Qal):to go about to and fro (in business)trader, trafficker (participle)So not only is wisdom better than money, or the profit of wisdom better than the profit of money, or the acquisition of wisdom better than the acquisition of money, but also the trade, traffic or business of wisdom better that the trade, commerce or business of money.
Now let us talk about trade. How do you trade with money to get money? You need money or something in exchange with it to get money. Businessmen invest capital in order to get it back plus profits after some time. People who do not have a capital can borrow.
People who are not businessmen exchange their time and effort in exchange for money and we call them laborers or employees.
You also need wisdom to get wisdom.
What if I am a beginner and ignorant? Just like employees and laborers have to work hard to get little money, you can also study hard to get wisdom, though little at the beginning. And as you reinvest the little wisdom you have, it will grow just like the five talents of gold becoming ten talents at the hands of the skillful and faithful servant (Mat 25:14-31).I remember before, my acquisition of wisdom is hard. Why?Because my knowledge base is not that big yetI have a desktop computer but it is inconvenient to use early morning in my devotion because of the heat I will absorb making me feel bad after a bath
using books (printed ones) is hard also (computers are far better)

So it takes a lot of time to get insights. And as I used the wisdom I gained, tried to use dictionaries to learn more about the words used in Proverbs, I gained more insights. And because the rate of gaining wisdom is increasing to the point of taking more time in the research of word meanings, cross-references, and few reading of commentaries in the computer, I prayed to God for help to be a better steward. And God gave me an idea! If I cannot yet afford a very portable notebook computer, why not a PDA? I searched for the most appropriate, bought one, and I never regretted the move. Now I am gaining more than ever before. I used wisdom to get more wisdom.

So how do we trade?Buy, get, acquire wisdom.
Do not forget the raw materials of knowledge. And do not forget the process of understanding, the conversion of raw materials into useful finished product, wisdom.
Prov 4:7, Prov 23:23 (refs2)
Prefer knowledge that will not become obsolete easily.
Do not sell wisdom.
Prov 23:23, and do not sell truth, discernment, judgment, instruction and understanding.
But you may say, businessmen invest their money by exchanging the money (selling it) with capital, equipment, etc. to do business. They buy and sell, yes, but their objective is to get more money long term.
Actually, they do not lose the value (of money) because the capital has value too. So when we compare it with wisdom, we do not sell wisdom to lose it, instead we trade to increase it like the businessmen. If we exchange wisdom with foolishness, then we are losing it, it is a business disaster.
Use wisdom to get wisdom.
This is how we trade in wisdom.
Learn more applications of the wisdom you learned. Learn more details like detailed better steps, procedures. Increase your understanding of the why also, the reason for doing things. I can remember in many of my devotions, as I write about my insights on a particular passage in Scriptures after meditation, it expands even more. And even as I shared it with my wife and students, it increases further. The following day (or after a cycle of reading it again), the Holy Spirit gives me more. I remember expanding one insight in three days with more details, different applications, and related insights. This is increase in wisdom.
Apply the wisdom in your life.
If you do not use what you have, you will lose it (Mat 25:29 NLT).
And as you apply, you increase it more because experience also gives you wisdom. And if you commit some mistakes, you increase again your wisdom so that next time will be better. Store the wisdom that cannot be specifically applied yet.
Generally, wisdom have lots of applications, but there are some that can only be applied in the future. Journalize these, even better all that you had learned. Make sure they are easily retrievable so electronic formats are better. Teach wisdom. As you teach and sow it, you gain even more.
Go round about (in circuit) like a merchant doing business.
Do not also forget that trade with foreigners is very profitable. Do not learn everything the hard way, learn from others too – those near you, your relatives; those a little far, your pastors, peers, boss, and friends; and even foreigners, international ministers, experts from abroad. But remember to exchange and do not be a parasite, do business well to have repeat transactions.
Diversify.Ecc 11:1-6. Do not concentrate on one area of wisdom. Traverse all areas of life like family, work, relationships, finances, health, etc. Remember, there are many areas of our lives and we do not live in just one area.
Understand the times, and know what you should do.
1 Chron 12:32A successful businessman needs to understand the times and timing. He needs to know where the market is heading and be prepared for that opportunity to position himself for gain. In wisdom trade, it is very similar. If there is a visitor in the church to speak about a useful topic like productivity, make arrangements to be able to attend.
Learn everywhere, learn all the time, learn from all people.
A businessman will do business anywhere, anytime and with many people.
He is a businessman and he can't help it. He may not deal with all people, especially those who do not pay, but a good businessman have even options/products for poor people. In the trade of wisdom it is also the same. You can learn in any place where you are and not just in schools, secret place, training rooms, church.
And while we are awake, our brains continuously process information inputs from our senses and we learn. We can even learn from not so good people about examples of what not to follow.
The writer of Prov 24:30-34 received instruction as he passed by, gazed at the field of a lazy man.
Use your machine in this business.
Your machine in wisdom trade is your brain, you use it for meditation, analysis, synthesis, invention, imagination, planning, study, etc. Make sure your machine is always in good shape and well maintained.
Simplify, streamline, automate, improve all processes.
It is just like a manufacturing business. The point is to be more productive. 

Follow
Like