Proverbs 8:17-19 now changes the focus to that which is positive. I love the context, for we have had some hard hitting truth. This comes as a balm to the chastised heart. Look at the language found in the text. We have two parts in Proverbs 8:17. First is the love for those who love wisdom. Those who love something have an approach and way of handling the thing loved. This word “love” is reflected by love between a husband and wife, family, and displayed as some acts of friendship. It also reflects the love of mankind to God and from God to mankind. I love the Theological Wordbook’s statement when it says,

The intensity of the meaning ranges from God’s infinite affection for his people to the carnal appetites of a lazy glutton.

This is a broad word, so in our text, the meaning is closer to the good side of this equation. The love that wisdom is showing is in equal response to the love that is given to wisdom. This love is a positive love, not driven by wickedness or vileness but a love that reflects a good decree.

We also find the ease by which wisdom is found. It does not hide itself from those who seek. But please look at how it should be sought. There are those who, while relaxing, and yawning, will say through a hand clasped, open mouth,

I am seeking

But notice what wisdom says. Those who seek me diligently. There has to be a diligent search. It could be to seek early, earnestly, look for, seek, but we can go even deeper. Wisdom cannot be found by hoping to accidentally fall into it. How powerful is this word?

David seeks for the Lord – Psalm 63:1

We find this in Proverbs 1:28; Proverbs 7:15

Lastly, during affliction, the afflicted will seek God – Hosea 5:15.

The word is not a simple hoping to find it on accident type word. It is intentional and purposeful. So should be our seeking for wisdom. Is it? The focus changes to what wisdom brings with it in Proverbs 8:18.

There are two kinds of riches, honor, and righteousness. The word for riches are different. The first word for riches speaks of wealth. We could spend several weeks looking at wealth, but we would be off the direction we are going here. To sum up a small point, having wealth is not sin. What is sin is the attitude and approach of that wealth. Do not be distracted by the notion that all rich are evil. There are those who try to establish a class warfare, but let us glance just off that for now. Wisdom brings riches. Many pursue after wealth, while ignoring wisdom. Riches with wisdom brings an appropriate response to wealth and it is not a negative thing.

But we also find everlasting wealth. This is the wealth that is not found in this life. Also known as durable riches, it can also be translated as enduring riches. Carrying this into the New Testament, we run across Matthew 6:19-20. This is that durable, or everlasting riches which is laid up in Heaven, and not on earth. If there is a pursuit after the earthly riches, we find how Jesus handles this in Luke 12:20-21. There is no comparison between the two. If we pursue after wisdom, this brings with it both type of riches. Yet this everlasting riches is worth far more than anything earthly riches can bring. One will be lost or passed on. The other will last for eternity! There is no comparison between these two.

Before we think that earthly riches is ONLY money or possessions, there are things that show wealth beyond money. Ask a father and husband who has a family that loves him and respect his role as the head of the home if he would give that up for all the money in the world. Ask someone who is “poor” but they are content and thankful for what they have, if they would trade that for all the things of the earth. The answer for both of these would be absolutely no! This kind of wealth is based on true wisdom and the riches it brings.

But what is honor and righteousness? Both are fixed with the riches that come before it. It is true that wealth does bring honor to people. Sadly, that honor is misplaced for they are anything but honorable. Those who pursue after wisdom will have the traits needed to receive true honor. This word has an idea of dignity, reputation, honor, abundance, riches, etc. True dignity is born out of those who have true wisdom. Honor comes because of what wisdom brings to those who seek it. Remember, sometimes riches is more than just money or possessions but in all of this, there is a dignity that is carried in the individual. Look back through Proverbs in what we have covered by wisdom (Proverbs 3:16, 35). Do we see how much more this is for honor?

In connection with eternal riches, we have righteousness. Going back to the New Testament, we find that having our faith in Jesus Christ gives us riches that is beyond the decay and loss of this world! Our faith is what gives us the righteousness of God. To have a quick recap, we find Jesus is our righteousness (Jeremiah 33:15-16). And this righteousness comes upon all who confess faith in Jesus (Isaiah 61:10). Wisdom tells us where we can get this righteousness. Any “wisdom” that leads away from God’s Word (the Bible) and from Jesus as REVEALED IN THE BIBLE, is not real wisdom. There will only be earthly treasure with no honor or righteousness. Each one of these points must have the other.

The two riches, honor, and righteousness comes with wisdom. The fruit of wisdom is better than gold, and fine gold! There is a difference between these two things. There is a company that puts gold on their pens. They are plated, and it is a lower grade gold. It does make the pen a little more costly but not overly expensive. About $100. In the world of cost, this is cheap. The most expensive gold pen, keeping apples to apples, is the Montegrappa Viking Fountain Pen. It has three different kinds of 18K gold. The cost...$268,000 for one! Who is ready to run out and purchase one? There are two pens, both are gold. Why is the price different? One gold is worth more than the other (granted it could partially be due to the name of the manufacturer as well). This brings to bear the truth of what we find in Proverbs 8:19. Wisdom is bringing value worth more than the most expensive of gold. But wisdom also brings a revenue than choice silver.

Imagine being paid for our work with choice silver. Choice is the same concept as fine in this verse. This is the pure silver. The revenue is the yield or produce, often from the field and crops. It is the profit that comes from the work. The profit is choice, best, or high quality. We can say this is the top pay for a job. It is the most return on investment. This is the best. Wisdom brings this, provides this, supports this. Wisdom truly does provide great wealth and riches to those who actively pursue it.

What then causes us to not pursue after wisdom? Seeing the vacuum of wisdom in our society of all facets, and seeing the blessing of fully pursuing wisdom, why would we not want to pursue after it. It has been said many times, it is only true wisdom that should be pursued. Any wisdom that leads away from, or ends apart from true, conservative Christianity, is not wisdom. It is a denial of the truth of God’s Word, a denial of who Jesus is as revealed by His Word, and a denial of God Himself. But our challenge is to pursue after true wisdom. The wisdom that comes from God. Wisdom that calls for us as we have been seeing. But how does wisdom walk, and the result of that walk? For that we will look at Proverbs 8:20-21.