Like Jewels on a Necklace

Proverbs 3:21 – 22 - “My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.”
 

I don’t even remember how I came across this scripture, but I did…
I wrote it down and thought, I am going to come back to this because something about it grabbed a hold of me.
 

…don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment, hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.
 

When I look at a necklace, the first thing I normally notice is the jewel, the most precious piece of the necklace. Normally the most expensive and important part of the necklace is the jewel, the stone, the pendant, the precious piece, the beautiful part.
 

It got me to thinking, if common sense and discernment are like jewels on a necklace they are pretty important and even though they sound like pretty underwhelming things to have, if we give them significance in our lives they will become something beautiful.
 

Common sense - is sound practical judgment concerning everyday matters, or a basic ability to perceive, understand, and judge that is shared by nearly all people.
 

The fact that it states – nearly all people means it maybe isn’t something that comes naturally to everyone. Common sense maybe, is something we need to learn to do, something that needs some attention given to it.
 

Discernment - is the ability to obtain sharp perceptions or to judge well.

Being able to have sharp perceptions about circumstances, to understand what is going on in a situation is definitely a trait that would be beneficial to possess.
 

This scripture is telling me if I ‘hang on’ to these two things, my soul will be refreshed. To be refreshed means to give new strength or energy to. My soul could definitely benefit from some refreshing.
 

Common sense and discernment seem like pretty mundane things but to possess them is to have something very precious and rare, close to your heart, bringing refreshment to your soul.
 

In this busy life that we live it can be hard to take the time to refresh our soul. This scripture reminds us of the importance of taking the time for the seemingly mundane. Taking the time, that will produce something of value out of something ordinary. After all, isn’t this what God does with us? Takes an ordinary person, pours time and love into them and creates something of extraordinary beauty and value.
 

I have a very precious necklace that my husband gave to me, now whenever I wear it I am reminded of this scripture. Reminded to use my common sense and gain discernment, adding another jewel to my necklace and refreshing my soul.
 

Add common sense and discernment to the precious jewels you have in your life. Take care of them, don’t lose sight of them, hang on to them and you too will add a precious jewel to your necklace. Precious jewels that sit close to your heart, to strengthen and give new energy to your soul.