Probing
Proverbs 8: 10-11 Choose my instruction rather than silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than
rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.
This is quite a provocative statement when you
think about it. I realize that most of us, if we read this in front of others,
outwardly we would agree and say “Amen!” That's because it seems like the right
thing to say and if I may, the “Christian” thing to say. But how many of us in
our heart do not view advice concerning knowledge as more valuable than wealth?
In fact, the very last claim is the most provocative. “Nothing you desire can
compare with it”. Nothing… NOTHING? That really covers a lot doesn't it? Think
of all the things, righteous and sinful that you might desire. I know my list
would be quite long, yet I am being challenged to consider that nothing on that
list can compare to the instruction that Wisdom would give. As I stated, I know
it sounds good to agree with this, but it's more important…No, it's essential
that before we agree with it, we truly believe it. So let's consider how this
claim might be true. The Scripture makes it clear that wealth and material
things are not evil in and of themselves.
These things become a problem when
they possess the portion of our heart and our mind that are reserved only for
God. Obviously, when a person decides that they want to worship money and
things, there really isn't much anyone can do. Their willful decision has set
their path. However, many people do not intentionally set out to love money or
things. So what happens, what brings a person that thought one way, prior to
wealth or materialism, to move in a direction that would cause the very things
that they thought would bring them pleasure, comfort or even peace, to now
being the very things that are destroying their soul? We've all heard how a
little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. That is true.
It is also true that
having a lot of wealth and material property without possessing the
understanding of what it is for, how it can be used, what it will bring and
what it cannot supply is just as dangerous. Go to any website and do a history
check on the winners of the lotto. The vast majority you will find lost their
enjoyment of life, their family, their peace of mind and in the end even the
wealth that had dropped into their lap. Look at families where the children
have inherited incredible wealth, once again the vast majority end up much
worse than they were before all this desired wealth was bestowed on them. This
is why Wisdom can make this claim. If you have all the wealth but do not know
its advantages or its dangers, the chances are you will fall prey to the traps
that come with all the beautiful dressing. 
On the other hand, if you have the
knowledge of the benefits and pitfalls of wealth and material things, whether
you're a billionaire or a person that makes just enough to make it through the
month, when you add Wisdom to that knowledge then the little you have or the
much, will be used by you for its maximum benefit and you will navigate away
from the dangers. To have Wisdom sets you up to handle whatever riches may come
your way. To have riches without Wisdom... well, history has shown that most
times in that situation, it will be the riches that have you!
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