Proverbs 2-3 - Wisdom and her children

I've heard it said that the goal for educating children has two halves. 1) To teach them to discern between good and evil. 2) To teach them to prefer what is good.

The first of these two goals is the “easy” half. The second part is significantly more difficult, but no less crucial, due to our nature as fallen human beings. The natural man delights in evil and despises what is good and true. The tendency of our flesh is toward the dark side. Sin is seductive, sin is fun. Sin has all the pleasures of illicit sex, drunken revelries, and ill-gotten gain. The devil has all the good music.

This is the value of wisdom. Wisdom preserves us from becoming one of those who “Rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked.” (v.14)Wisdom teaches us to prefer what is good. Having wisdom means we no longer grudgingly turn away from sin, casting longing glances back over our shoulders at pleasures offered, wondering if we are missing out. Wisdom gives us true sight. We see not the pleasure in the sin but the pain, and we see the true pleasures of righteousness. Wisdom comes and removes the blindfold with which Satan, the god of this world, has blinded our minds. So we are now able to truly enjoy, revel, and delight in the law of the Lord. (Psalms 1:2)

Please give us wisdom, God. Help us to truly see. Amen.