Our first lesson dealt with the value of the soul. Without understanding this, the other points in our study are useless. But now that we understand the value of the soul, how should we care for our soul? In this lesson, we will consider the importance of possessing the truth.
“Buy truth, and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23).
What Is Truth?
The above question was what Pilate asked Jesus. When Jesus told the governor that He came “to testify to the truth” (John 18:37), Pilate responded with the question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). The irony in his question was that he asked the One who was the embodiment of truth, as Jesus told His disciples earlier, “I am…the truth” (John 14:6).
Since Jesus is “the truth” (John 14:6) and He was the Word of God in the flesh (John 1:14), then we should also understand that the word of God written down in the Scriptures is the truth. When Jesus prayed to the Father before His death, He said, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The words of the psalmist remind us that “the sum of [God’s] word is truth” (Psalm 119:160).
So what is truth? It is the message that has been delivered to us by God. In Christ – and therefore, in His word (cf. John 1:14) – “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). David wrote that the words of God are “more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold” (Psalm 19:10).
What the Truth Gives Us
Why is the truth of God’s word “more desirable than gold” (Psalm 19:10)? Why are we told to “buy truth” and “not sell it” (Proverbs 23:23)? Truth is so valuable because of what we get from it – “wisdom and instruction and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23). Let us briefly consider each one of these.
Understanding – Through God’s word we are able to have understanding. David wrote, “I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Your precepts” (Psalm 119:100). The truth of God’s word is simple enough that all can understand. When Jesus taught, “the common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37, KJV). Those who possess worldly wisdom to the point of arrogance see the simple message of the gospel as “foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:23). But God purposely made His word simple so that it could be understood by all (Ephesians 3:4). By looking to His word, we can “understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17) and know the difference between right and wrong (Psalm 119:104).
Instruction – The word of God is also valuable because it provides instructions regarding how we must live our lives. This is important because of what we studied in our previous lesson about the value of the soul. After teaching that one’s soul is more valuable than anything in this world, Jesus said that one day He will “repay every man according to his deeds” (Matthew 16:27). How can we make sure our deeds are right so that we might be prepared for this judgment? We must look to the instructions of God’s word. The word of God shows what is required of us (Colossians 3:18-4-6; et al.). It also contains instruction warning us of what we should not do (Colossians 3:5-9; et al.).
Wisdom – In addition to the understanding and instruction found in the word of God, the truth is also able to provide wisdom. The psalmist said, “Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies” (Psalm 119:98). The simplest definition for wisdom is the ability to properly apply knowledge. Once we understand the instructions that God has given us in His word, we must practice them. James said we must be “doers of the word, and not merely hearers” (James 1:22). Our experience in practicing the things taught in the word of God causes us to grow in wisdom (Hebrews 5:14). Knowledge alone is not enough; belief is not enough; we must live according to the precepts that have been revealed to us from God.
The Cost of Truth
To buy the truth implies that there is a price we must pay. Acquiring truth is not just about what we get (wisdom, instruction, and understanding), it is also about what we must give up. But even with this, it is still a wise investment to give up whatever is necessary in order to obtain the truth. But what sort of things must we be willing to give up?
Pride – To buy the truth often means admitting that we were wrong. Therefore, we need humility when we engage in a study of the Scriptures. James said that “in humility” we are to “receive the word” (James 1:21). But not only must we not take pride in our own limited understanding, we are not to take pride in traditions, preachers, churches, etc. It could be that the traditions in which we take pride are contrary to God’s word and render our worship vain (Matthew 15:6-9). It might be that the preachers in which we place our trust are in error and need to be corrected (Acts 18:24-26; Galatians 2:11-14). Or perhaps the church with which we worship has “a name that [it is] alive, but [it is] dead” (Revelation 3:1). In every way, we must humbly submit to the will of God and conform our beliefs, teachings, and practices to the truth that we find in the Scriptures.
Time and effort – While God’s word is understandable (Ephesians 3:4), we are not born with an understanding of it. We must study in order to learn how to “accurately [handle] the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). This must be a continual process in which we grow and mature in our understanding of the will of God. We must “give attention to reading” (1 Timothy 4:13, NKJV) so that we might “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). As the noble-minded Bereans, we should study the Scriptures daily so that we might develop an understanding of God’s word (Acts 17:11). We must be willing to devote the time and effort necessary to learn the truth.
Friends and family – Sadly, buying the truth often puts one at odds with others who refuse to accept the truth themselves. Jesus warned His apostles that the world would hate them (John 15:18-19). Peter warned Christians to “not be surprised at the fiery ordeal” which was going to come upon them (1 Peter 4:12). This trouble to which he referred was not the general hardships of life that all men must endure. Instead, they were going to suffer “as a Christian” (1 Peter 4:16). Jesus even warned that the opposition we face for following Him will sometimes come from those who are the closest to us. “A man’s enemies will be the members of his household” (Matthew 10:36). We may have to sacrifice certain relationships in this life for the sake of the truth.
Why Some Sell the Truth
To sell the truth is to compromise it or even abandon it altogether. Why do some choose to do this? Jesus gives us an answer in the following passage:
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Jesus says that the way of error is easier and more popular than the way of truth. Sadly, many are short-sighted and choose the ease and popularity of the broad way. Peter said that those who do not continue to grow as they should are “short-sighted, having forgotten [their] purification from [their] former sins” (2 Peter 1:9). We must not sell the truth – either through compromise or outright abandonment of it – for the truth is “a lamp to [our] feet” (Psalm 119:105) that shows us the safe way down the narrow path that leads to life.
Conclusion
We must buy the truth and never sell it. We must allow it to guide us in all that we do. We must teach it to those who will listen and defend it against error. Why is it so important that we do these things? It is because the truth contained in God’s word is “more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold” (Psalm 19:10).
Only the truth found in the Scriptures is able to provide us with “wisdom and instruction and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23) in things pertaining to God. Let us always remember the value of truth and be committed to doing what is necessary in order to obtain it.
[…] In Part 2 of his Making Wise Investments series, Andy Sochor reflects on buying the truth. […]