4 I cry out to you, people;
my voice goes out to all of humanity.
5 Understand skill, you who are naive.
Take this to heart, you fools.
6 Listen, for I speak things that are correct;
from my lips comes what is right.
7 My mouth utters the truth;
my lips despise wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
nothing in them is twisted or crooked.
9 All of them are straightforward to those who understand,
and upright for the knowledgeable.
10 Take my instruction rather than silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Wisdom is better than pearls;
nothing is more delightful than she.
12 I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence;
I have found knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
I hate pride and arrogance,
the path of evil and corrupt speech.
14 I have advice and ability,
as well as understanding and strength.
15 By me kings rule,
and princes issue righteous decrees.
16 By me rulers govern,
and officials judge righteously.[a]
17 I love those who love me;
those who seek me will find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
as well as enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold;
my crops are better than choice silver.
20 I walk on the way of righteousness,
on the paths of justice,
21 to provide for those who love me
and to fill up their treasuries.
Reflection
King Solomon likely wrote this proverb, along with many others. Pay attention because he was most likely the wisest man ever. So, what did he say was more valuable than silver and gold?
In verse 10 he wrote: “Take my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold. And he added in the next verse: “Wisdom is better than pearls; nothing is more delightful than she.”
Solomon added that wisdom dwells with prudence and that he also found knowledge and discretion.
In verse 17B he wrote, “Those who seek me will find me.” I’m not sure if he’s talking about himself or God. But suffice it to say we’ve been told we will find God if we seek him. You can find dozens of verses that tell us that. But there is a catch. We’re told in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
It’s serious business to seek and find God. But it is so worth it. And that’s when you find that silver and gold shouldn’t be what we want. We want and need God’s instruction and knowledge. And throw in wisdom too.
Then we will truly have riches.
by Rick Reed
For Pondering and Prayer
Of course we should seek after God. But the right way, the only way, is to seek him will all our heart.
Prayer: My God, help me to never take you or your Word for granted. Help me to seek after you with my whole heart. In Jesus name. Amen.
