The Worth of Wisdom
Anon. 1 Kings 10:4-9 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,… We may regard the Queen of Sheba as a woman who paid a great price for wisdom. I. THE SENSE IN WHICH WISDOM IS OPEN TO US ALL. 1. The objects of nature are about us; human life is spent in our presence; we need but the open eye, the hearing ear, the understanding mind, and we shall be wise in that direction. 2. The record of revealed religion, of Divine truth, is to be had for a few pence. 3. Jesus Christ, who Himself is the wisdom of God, is offering Himself to us as our Saviour, our Friend, our Guide, if we will give Him our heart, if we will take His hand. 4. Eternal life, with all that it includes, both here and hereafter, is "the gift of God" (Romans 6:23). II. THE SENSE IN WHICH IT IS COSTLY. 1. Much of the practical wisdom of life is only to be gained from a suffering experience. We buy them at the counter of experience. 2. The fixed persuasion of the Divine origin of the Christian faith is often only to be reached after the upbreaking of early confidence; after painful and perplexing doubt; after earnest and prolonged inquiry; after prayerful waiting. With much tribulation many spirits enter the kingdom of truth. 3. Entrance on our Christian course is often attended with inward strife or outward loss. 4. Attainment of the loftier heights of wisdom is the result of patient effort, of sacred thought, of fervent prayer, of self-sacrifice. For we can only see God with the pure heart (Matthew 5:8). Only love understands love; nothing but spiritual excellency will appreciate spiritual beauty. "Only the good discern the good." III. THE SUPREME WORTH OF WISDOM. (Anon.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, WEB: When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,