College girl. Late 1990′s. Ambiguously ambitious. Twenty pounds heavier than orientation day. And clueless. Clueless about life. Clueless about who I wanted to be. I studied business because I figured I could “do anything with that degree.” I added an economics major because it was the only class I enjoyed of all of my business courses. That should have told me something, but it didn’t. Like I said, clueless.
Going into my field of study, I didn’t even know the definition of economics. Talk about wandering aimlessly! However, I soon learned that economics, simply put, is the study of allocating scarce resources. Our world is full of resources, which are essentially limited, and decisions have to be made about who, how, what for, and where these resources will be used. Without the knowledge that resources are limited and scarce, what would likely result? We would consume, consume, consume without a thought. We would place little to no value on the things that are available to us. We would squander them. (Or squander them more than we already do, depending on how you look at it.) You see, the study of economics revolves around the realization that resources are limited, giving our choices regarding their use infinitely greater meaning, purpose, and value.
Just as the key to making proper allocations with our natural resources is the awareness of their limitations, the key to being women of wisdom is the constant realization that our days are scarce resources, too. We have an expiration date. Sure, no one wants to hear that, but think of it with a different twist . . . because our days on earth are limited, they are valuable. Each and ever day is meaningful!
Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” The reality of the situation is that our days are numbered here on earth. We have a limited amount of time before every day is “used up,” regardless of if we are aware of it in our daily decisions or not. When we truly recognize the scarcity of our time, it compels us to make choices that will be the best use of the days and hours that we have.
Imagine waking up each morning with 24 shiny coins in your hand. Each hour that goes by is a chance to invest that coin into something meaningful. We become wise when our decisions, or investments, are regularly made with the knowledge that if we make an investment in one category, we forfeit the opportunity to invest in all or most others with that single coin. This mentality will not only impact the choices that we make, but it will impact the way we view our choices. For example, if I am cleaning my house because that is one way I choose to serve my family, my investment has meaning and purpose because it’s a way to serve the people God has put in my life.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The two things we have on earth that are eternal are the souls of mankind and the Word of God. The woman with a wise heart will be relentless in her pursuit of heavenly treasures, even in the mundane.
God of the Universe, May every choice I make be weighed in light of eternity because I know my days here are short. May I most value the investments that in some way are made into the lives of other souls and Your Word. In this way, allow me to one day present myself to You with a heart of wisdom. Amen.
