Buy Truth - Proverbs 23

Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Proverbs 23:23

This is a great scripture to use for a variety of purposes. It instructs us to buy truth and wisdom, instruction and understanding. I understand the buying of instruction. That could be the whole idea behind a college degree. “Buy the instruction” could be referring to tuition and we all know that is something that is increasing year after year.

One of my all time favorite quotes heard on the House floor during a legislative session was when Chairman Chisum, in response to an inquiry to please explain something to another representative for about the fourth or fifth time, replied, “I can explain it to you, but I cannot understand it for you.” So, how do you buy understanding?

What is truth? And, what is it worth to you? How do you buy the truth?

In a day when to the world, truth has become relevant to the circumstances and every man does what is right in his own eyes, the concept of truth being a priceless commodity is unknown. But, the believer knows that truth is not a circumstance or a set of facts. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

An encounter with the truth is not an encounter with facts. It is an encounter with Jesus. Think about that when you are in the heat of an argument and discussing whether a set of facts are “true” or not. Personally, I think of facts as “accurate” rather than “true” because a fact may be accurate, but not reflect biblical truth. (This comes under the heading of Words Have Meaning – know that and use them correctly.)

So, what is Truth worth to you and how do you buy it? Truth must be purchased without the commodities that are of value in a secular sense. You can have all the money in the world and not be able to buy truth. You have to purchase it through your prayer life, relationships, and commitment to giving all of you for all of Him. It means sacrificing your time with computer or TV to spend time in the Word. It means that your life is not about what you want to do; it is about what He wants to do through you.

If there is ANYTHING in your life that is more important to you than your relationship with Christ, you are not buying the truth. Jesus told the ruler who asked him how to inherit eternal life that though he had followed all the commandments that was not enough. In his words, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.” But scripture tells us that when the ruler heard this he became sad because he was very rich. And, there is never another mention of him. He traded his eternal life –truth - for his current riches.

You Patriots are at a wonderful place in history. Your entire lives are playing out before you and many of you will be incredibly successful in the eyes of the world. But, if you get all the riches of the world and miss the truth, you will be a failure.

Lord, teach us to love truth and hate deception. Show us how to recognize You in all areas of our lives. Amen