The Blessings Wisdom provide - Proverb

If I could give you the secret to extending the days of your life, would you give your time and resources towards pursuing it? Based on the pattern of our culture, many think they do. After all, as a society, we expend a lot of resources towards health and physical/mental fitness. Don't get me wrong, there are benefits to physical fitness. The apostle Paul reminds us - for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come (I Timothy 4:8). Notice Paul's point, there is some value to physical fitness, but it doesn't compare to the value of godliness. Godliness holds a promise not only for this life but for the life to come.

Solomon is pleading with his children to hear and receive his instructions since they will add years to their life. Never forget that vice and intemperance impair the health and shorten the days of the wicked. Adam Clark commenting on this text writes - The principal part of our diseases springs from "indolence, intemperance, and disorderly passions." This is why we should not neglect the means of grace that God has provided us. The means of grace (time in the Word, time in prayer, fellowship with godly believers, the ordinances, etc...) will encourage sober habits, destroy evil passions, and facilitate godly desires that promote length of days.