Introduction
   What is your greatest desire? If you could be granted one wish, what would it be for? Would you desire health, happiness, peace, wealth, as many people probably do? Wouldn't you then be shooting for the gratification of your physical or materialistic desires? Is it really overly important to have them or anyone of them? Having them, will it make you a better person in the eyes of Yahweh? Certainly to be happy, healthy, to live in peace and/or to be wealthy would be nice, but we should know that because of the very nature of man their attainment is very difficult and that these will never universally come about until Yahweh's Kingdom has been set up.

Wisdom — Prudence Revisited
   What, then, should be your greatest desire? By rereading Proverbs chapter 3 you will find the answer, specifically verse 15: She (Wisdom) is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to Her.
   Proverbs 4:7 reads about the importance of Wisdom:
   Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
   Proverbs 3:21 and 8:12 have already shown us the importance of Wisdom and understanding dwelling together.
   My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion, Proverbs 3:21.
   I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions, Proverbs 8:12.
   Why should Wisdom be the greatest of all desires? How is desiring Wisdom connected to attaining our goal as set forth in Matthew 6:33 of seeking first the Kindgom of Yahweh?
   But seek ye first the kingdom of Yahweh, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
   Wisdom and understanding will preserve, keep, and direct your paths.
   When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward (perverse) things; who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the forwardness of the wicked; whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: to deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words. Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her mighty-one. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it, Proverbs 2:10 - 22.

The Heart of Man
   The heart is deceitful (referring to the old nature) above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9).
   Concerning the nature of the heart of man, Yahshua gave a parable in Matthew 15:10 - 11:
   Hear, and understand: not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth the man. See also Mark 7:14 - 15.
   In explaining this parable, Yahshua said that those things which come out of his mouth to defile a man originate in the heart,
   But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man, Matthew 15:18.
   And certainly one can not pull the wool over Yahweh's eyes for He knows your innermost thoughts and desires.
   And He (Yahshua) said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but Yahweh knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of Yahweh, Luke 16:15.
   And Yahweh, Who knoweth the hearts, Acts 15:8a.
   Since the heart of man is, by nature, deceitful, one should not place his trust (confidence) in his heart (He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool, Proverbs 28:26a) but place his trust in Yahweh (Prov. 29:25; Ps. 37:3 - 6; Prov. 28:25; Ps. 40:4; 118:8, 9).
   In supplanting the old nature by the new (Read Romans 6), one can not become lax for Satan is always trying to gain a foothold. One must therefore self-examine himself periodically — more than on a once a year basis prior to Passover. One can do this through prayer and fasting — resulting in a closer fellowship between him and his Creator.
   Physically speaking, the heart is an organ whose function is to pump blood throughout the body. Spiritually speaking, the heart is the mainstay of our very charac- ter. A weak heart will permit undesirable influences to gain a foothold in us, while a strong heart will not. A heart of stone will reject Yahweh, but a heart of flesh will not. In a prayer for deliverance David requested that his heart be sound (thorough or perfect) in Yahweh's statutes (Let my heart be sound in Thy statutes; that I be not ashamed, Psalm 119:80.) and that the hidden part be made to know Wisdom (Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom, Psalm 51:6.).
   This Wisdom is the Wisdom from above and is imparted to us from Yahweh (For Yahweh giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding, Proverbs 2:6.) so that we can more fully understand the Scriptures "which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Yahshua Messiah," II Tim. 3:15.
   We should have Yahweh's Words implanted in our hearts (Prov. 3:1 - 4; 4:4, 20, and 21; and 14:33) and we should conduct ourselves according to them. Hence, one can now see the validity of Proverbs 2:10 – 22, where Wisdom and understanding will direct our paths in obtaining our goal as given in Matt. 6:33.

Guidelines
   One way to examine the Scriptures is as a set of guidelines — rules by which our lives should be governed. Nowhere in the history of mankind has man ever set up (or ever could set up) a more perfect set of guidelines. Many times over man has proven the adage that laws are made to be broken. We, by our very nature, break Yahweh's laws every day. We are not to make a point of doing so, for, most assuredly, there will come a day in which we will suffer for the wrong we have done. But suffering for righteousness sake is acceptable with Yahweh. I Pet. 2:19 - 21 and 3:14 - 17 say:
   For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward Yahweh endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with Yahweh. For even hereunto were ye called: because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps, 1 Peter 2:19 - 21.
   But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. But sanctify Yahweh Elohim in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation (behavior) in Messiah. For it is better, if the will of Yahweh be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing, 1 Peter 3:14 - 17.

Stone or Flesh?
   What kind of heart do you have? Is it pliable so that it can be molded into shape to conform to Yahweh's laws and thus accept the Wisdom from above. Or, is it made of stone to reject the truths of the Scriptures and thus live by man’s wisdom? The truth of the whole matter boils down to where your true interests lie. Is the attainment of materialistic gifts more appealing to you than spiritual gifts? It best not be "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” Luke 12:34.

Treasures In Heaven
   Praise ye Yah. Blessed is the man that feareth Yahweh, that delighteth greatly in His commandments ... Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever, Psalm 112:1, 3.
   This same thought is reworded in Proverbs 22:4 as
   By humility and the fear of Yahweh are riches, and honour, and life.
   In the Companion Bible’s comments, this verse reads as:
   “The reward of humility (that is) the fear of Yahweh will be riches, and honor and life (life everlasting)."
   Earthly riches and honor are not to be sought after as an end in themselves because riches profit nothing (Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death, Proverbs 11:4), breed trouble (Better is little with the fear of Yahweh than great treasure and trouble therewith, Proverbs 15:16), produce want (A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent ... He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him, Proverbs 28:20, 22), and are left behind after death (For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names ... Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him, Psalm 49:10, 11, 16, and 17).
   One should not labor to be rich,
   Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom, Proverbs 23:4.
   One should labor for Wisdom and a good name for they are better than riches.
   Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her, Proverbs 3:13 – 15.
   For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things than may be desired are not to be compared to it, Proverbs 8:11.
   How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver, Proverbs 16;16.
   A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold, Proverbs 22:1.
   Therefore, the conclusion of all these verses is simple.
   Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also, Matthew 6:19 - 21.
   By laying up your treasures in heaven, your heart will be filled with good things, and by your actions, by the very way you live, you will show others these good things: love, joy, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. These are the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23).
   Now let Wisdom speak once again:
   Riches and honor are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver, Proverbs 8:18, 19.
   Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon Her: and happy is every one that retaineth Her, Proverbs 3:16 - 18.
   Length of days means that each day will be more important and not that you will necessarily have a longer physical life.
   Through Wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding is it established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches, Proverbs 24:3 – 4.

A Proud Heart
   Pride is a device which Satan places in our hearts to deceive us. Robert South, a 17th century English clergyman, once wrote:
   “Pride is the forerunner of a fall. It is Satan's sin, and Satan's ruin: and has been, ever since, Satan's stratagem, who, like an expert wrestler, usually gives a man a lift before he gives him a throw.”
   A nose turned up, or eyes lifted up, are the outwards signs of pride. A man's pride shall bring him low (A man's pride shall bring him low, Proverbs 29:23a) and result in shame (When pride cometh, then cometh shame, Proverbs 11:2a), contention (Only by pride cometh contention, Proverbs 13:10a), stirring up strife (He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife, Proverbs 28:25a) and destruction (Pride goeth before destruction, Proverbs 16:18a).
   If we fear Yahweh then we should hate pride (The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate, Proverbs 8:13) for such is an abomination to Yahweh (These six things doth Yahweh hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, Prov. 6:16, 17) and He has promised to destroy the house of the proud (Yahweh will destroy the house of the proud, Proverbs 15:25).

Conclusion
   Let the truth be said resoundingly that Yahweh’s Words are those which should be followed to lead us in the right direction — to first seek the Kingdom of Yahweh.