Braveheart

Last week I was convinced I needed to watch the movie Braveheart. So I did. Of course I had seen it and remembered it as one of those action-packed, blood, sweat, and tears, with a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure kind of movies. I was floored after I watched it for the second time.
After William Wallace's father dies his uncle comes to claim him. In a scene with young William and the uncle, William picks up a sword. His eyes were full of curiosity and bitterness. It is clear William is preparing at a young age to see his father avenged. William's uncle takes the sword from his hand. "Learn to use this," he says as he taps William of the forehead, "and I'll teach you to use this." (referring to the sword of course). My perspective of the movie changed. The movie went from pure entertainment to thought-provoking.
For the past couple of weeks I've been reading through the book of Proverbs. This one book contains so much advice that I wonder why I never took it seriously before. Each verse gives practical advice on living a pure and holy life. Reading through these verses I am reminded just as William is in the movie to think before I act.
It is by God's wisdom that all things were created. It is by God's wisdom that all things are sustained. Wisdom is one of the oldest ideas, even older than the heavens and earth. (see chapter 8 for the praise of wisdom). Yet, God is willing to share His wisdom with us! He says that wisdom will lengthen our days (3:2), it will make us happy and wealthy (3:13,14;4:10). Wisdom is often referred to in the book of Proverbs as a woman or precious stones and metals. Think about it, these are all very desirable things but wisdom is even more desirable than those. He wants us to seek it without hesitation as a man pursues a woman or as a pirate after gold. Perhaps even more fitting would be William Wallace after his freedom.
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding." (4:7) It isn't just an intellectual activity. It is not enough for us to simply know what is right. We must understand it by applying it to our lives. Think of it in this way. When we are young we're told not to touch the stove "It's hot." So at the age of two what is the first thing we do after being told that. We touch it of course. It is then that we really learn the meaning of "HOT." Our tiny little hands will bear the pain of disobedience to the instruction of our parents. It is a lesson we will remember until the day that we die. It isn't something that we have to learn over and over again because we understand it. The same is true with the wisdom God imparts to us. If we understand it we will not have hear it over and over again. At the same time by being obedient to God's instruction we will avoid the pain that results from poor decisions made on our own (8:32).
I haven't even scratched the surface of the wisdom of God. I probably never will. However, I will seek it earnestly and try, daily, to apply it to my life. I would encourage you, if you could, to read a few verses out of Proverbs each day. If you meditate on even just a couple I'm sure you will find yourself wanting for more. It is addicting! But God is willing to share and his supply is endless.
William Wallace succeeded not because of his strength but because of his wisdom. He knew his enemies moves. He spent more time on tactics than fighting. He treasured his wisdom. One scene that really stands out is the night before his death. He is given a vile in which he is encouraged to drink to numb the pain of torture. He resists saying that he needed his wits about him. Wisdom was the one thing they could never take from him and it was the one thing that he was unwilling to give up.
"In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death." -Proverbs 12:28
"Every man dies, not every man really lives."-William Wallace