Many Choose Gold

September 1, 2018

Proverbs 16:16

“How much better to get wisdom than gold!  To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”  Wisdom is not education, but education can be a help or hindrance to wisdom.  For the Scriptures are our guide to defining Wisdom, first we must go to Proverbs 1:1-7, The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; ^to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth.  Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles^.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Many who are in higher education fall under God’s use of the word fool, for they have no fear of God!  Many a man who loves the title of self-made man also has no understanding of wisdom, for they exchange this mist of life and what it offers for the eternal life, that is foolishness.

Now back to the Scripture to discover wisdom, in Job 28:28, “And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’  There are those who teach that being old brings wisdom, but in my 76 years of life on planet earth, I’ve experienced many older folks who are very foolish.  Listen to the words of this young man speaking to Job; “And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.  It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.”

  

We must look and ponder on three more Scriptures, and yes there are many you may look at, but these will give all who seek wisdom a guide to finding it.  Hosea 14:9, “Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”  The next verse Matthew 7:24, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man.”  And this is wisdom, 2 Timothy 3:15, “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice