Proverbs 3:14-18 is a three part movement of riches. Often, when one things of riches, they think of money. But riches can come from many different areas. Riches of money, riches of possessions, riches of life, riches of position, riches of affiliations, there are many ways riches can be felt and observed. In Proverbs 3:14-15 we see the riches compared to money. In Proverbs 3:16 we see the riches of life itself. Then in Proverbs 3:17-18 we find the riches of existence as we go through life.

In Proverbs 3:14, we find there is proceeds which are more than that of silver and fine gold. Right now, as of 6-7-23, gold is $1,962.39 per oz, and silver is $23.63 an oz. This can build wealth and as we see, just a couple oz of gold can really have wealth that has actual backing. But these proceeds are less than the wisdom and knowledge proceeds.

To have gold and silver in the Scripture was a symbol of extreme wealth. The world would be at their finger tips, and all they needed to do was to take it. But Solomon said this form of wealth was not equal to the true wealth of wisdom and understanding. How is this so? Money can be fleeting. This last Sunday, it was taught this very thing. It can take wings and fly away (Proverbs 23:5). Without wisdom and knowledge, this is so true.

Meet with those who are foolish with their money. They spend on all kinds of stuff only later to have nothing to show for it. The Bible gives us a parable of this (Luke 15:11-32). Look how he spent his money and how fast it flew away. He had the wisdom of what money can do for him, but he didn’t have the understanding of how to use it wisely. The wealth of both is worth more than physical gold and silver. The benefits and proceeds do not match.

The word for profit means gain, traffic, or gain from traffic. This is the trading and commerce of gold and silver. There was and is trade built on precious metals. And it is not bad. But compared to the value of wisdom and understanding for those who obtain them, gold and silver cannot compare. Why?

Proverbs 3:15 tells us that it is more precious than rubies! What is the value of a ruby? With a stone such as a ruby, we have to take into consideration the size, clarity, weight, and cut, and rarity of color shade. For example, the rare ruby oval, 1.52 ct STARTS at $5,500. Some of the bigger and rarer ones have been known to be up to $1 million per carat! Here is a website to see some idea of the value of a ruby! What Solomon is saying is wisdom and understanding is worth MORE than even rubies!

But it goes even further, it is even worth more than all we desire. What is our desire? The Bible tells us that as Christians our desire should be to please God, fulfill His will in our lives, to follow and obey Him, etc. But we can have some other desires, do we not? No matter what our desires are, the value we put on those things, does not match to the value of the profit of wisdom and knowledge.

Of course, as we have discussed, true wisdom and knowledge can only come from God and we can only get it from God when we come to Him through Jesus Christ. Then, through His Word, we are given wisdom and knowledge. It is this wisdom and knowledge, not just any wisdom and knowledge, that can carry this kind of value.

So what do we spend time pursuing? The wealth of this world? The riches of the world? The profits of the world? Or do we pursue the most valuable thing that cannot be compared to by anything from the world? The Bible gives us great hope toward this end. In James 1:5, we are told that if anyone lacks wisdom to ask of God. Those who are in the New Apostolic Reformation, or the Prosperity Gospel persuasions, are going to use this verse to try and say that God will give us anything liberally. It is the Wisdom that we can get liberally. Oh the wealth that will come from that pursuit!

My dear reader, do not be persuaded by the lure of the world. Yes, there are things we need and therefore, making profit is not bad. But profit in of itself is not all there is. I would encourage you to listen to the sermon from Sunday. In all things, pursue after God first, His wisdom and knowledge He can give to us and He does so through His Word. Then we have a treasure that is beyond the worth of the world.