A Conditional Love

(Proverbs 8:17 KJV)  I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

This is “love” (157) not “loving kindness” [chesed].  It is significant that Wisdom is doing the loving here, not God Himself.  This is important to understand.  Remember what used to be the most often memorized and quoted verse in the Bible.

((John 3:16 KJV)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

And remember what Paul said,

(Romans 5:8 KJV)  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The entire point of the Gospel is that God reaches out to us with the gift of eternal life.  He might demand a response, but He does not depend on our strength.

The love expressed here is totally conditional.  Wisdom will not love those who do not love it.  It must be a two way street.  People who want nothing to do with the wisdom of God will never be happy in its presence.  This is why we have so many naive believers.  Proverbs calls them simple.  They don’t want to know because wisdom is not always warm and fuzzy.  That is also why we have different gifts of the spirit such as wisdom and knowledge.

This is a promise about the accessibility of wisdom.  It is available if we will “seek early" (diligently seek NASB) (7836).   When we think of people being naive (8:5), ignorant or stupid we need to realize that those are not reasons, just excuses.

So?  I personally think God wants all of His children to seek wisdom, but then I don’t understand people with the gift of mercy.  Will you at least consider it?  I believe we need more people in the world who want to understand the whole counsel of God.