A Young Man Finds Treasure in a Clay JarBible World
3:14Proverbs 3:14
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
The profit gained from trading in wisdom and understanding is better and more valuable than profit from silver and fine gold. It is more precious than rubies, precious stones, and riches, and cannot be compared with anything that can be desired. Getting it brings a lasting happiness that material wealth cannot give, including long life, riches, honor, pleasantness, peace, and life. This is the wisdom that endures to eternity because it brings eternal life, beginning with the fear of the Lord as the principal thing to get, in knowing God's plan to bring man back into harmony with Him by copying Christ's perfect character through repentance, faith, surrender of the will, and obedience. It is found in God's holy Word and gained by studying and obeying the Bible, and must be prized above all hidden treasures and guarded by principle and dependence on God throughout life, lest like Solomon it be surrendered to passion and idolatry.
Wisdom's Surpassing Value
The merchandise, trade, and gain or profit that comes from wisdom and understanding is better and more valuable than the merchandise of silver and the gain of fine gold. Its worth exceeds that of silver or fine gold, so that to obtain it is of greater value than to obtain them.
Wisdom is more precious than rubies, precious stones, and riches, and is not to be compared with anything that can be desired, surpassing everything a person might desire. Its gain surpasses material wealth, so that fine gold and precious stones do not equal its value.
Gaining wisdom brings a lasting happiness that material wealth cannot match. That happiness includes long life, riches, honor, pleasantness, peace, and life.
True Wisdom Defined
True wisdom lasts as long as eternity because it is the wisdom needed to gain eternal life. It begins with the fear of the Lord and is the principal thing to get, with understanding. It is knowledge of the divinely ordained plan for bringing man back into harmony with God to copy the perfect pattern of Christ's character through repentance and faith, surrender of the will, and consecration of the affections to God. Obedience to its requirements is the first study and the first effort.
This wisdom is found in God's holy Word and is gained by studying and obeying the Bible, since spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. Without it worldly learning is of little worth. Those content with worldly wisdom and wise only in their own eyes remain ignorant of it, despising Scripture so that its deep truths in the Old and New Testaments stay obscure to them.
Faithful Response to Wisdom
The gain that comes from wisdom surpasses the value of silver and fine gold, and those who seek the knowledge of God treat it as above all hidden treasures. They prize the knowledge of God above material wealth, counting wisdom more precious than silver or gold.
The rich experience gained by following Christ is likewise more valuable than gold, silver, and precious stones. That experience includes keeping love for souls and serving others, whose worth exceeds all material wealth.
Solomon received this wisdom from God as more precious to him than the gold of Ophir, yet he surrendered the gift to lustful passion. His wives led him into idolatry, through which he lost firmness of character and became separated from God, the source of his strength. Wisdom must therefore be guarded by principle and dependence on God throughout life.
The gain from wisdom is worth more than fine gold and precious stones, making wisdom a richer adornment for the soul than golden ornaments are for the body. Effort should therefore be spent seeking wisdom rather than on outward fashion and adorning the outward appearance with gold.
The profit gained from trading in wisdom and understanding is better and more valuable than profit from silver and fine gold. It is more precious than rubies, precious stones, and riches, and cannot be compared with anything that can be desired. Getting it brings a lasting happiness that material wealth cannot give, including long life, riches, honor, pleasantness, peace, and life. This is the wisdom that endures to eternity because it brings eternal life, beginning with the fear of the Lord as the principal thing to get, in knowing God's plan to bring man back into harmony with Him by copying Christ's perfect character through repentance, faith, surrender of the will, and obedience. It is found in God's holy Word and gained by studying and obeying the Bible, and must be prized above all hidden treasures and guarded by principle and dependence on God throughout life, lest like Solomon it be surrendered to passion and idolatry.
Wisdom's Surpassing Value
The merchandise, trade, and gain or profit that comes from wisdom and understanding is better and more valuable than the merchandise of silver and the gain of fine gold. Its worth exceeds that of silver or fine gold, so that to obtain it is of greater value than to obtain them.
Wisdom is more precious than rubies, precious stones, and riches, and is not to be compared with anything that can be desired, surpassing everything a person might desire. Its gain surpasses material wealth, so that fine gold and precious stones do not equal its value.
Gaining wisdom brings a lasting happiness that material wealth cannot match. That happiness includes long life, riches, honor, pleasantness, peace, and life.
True Wisdom Defined
True wisdom lasts as long as eternity because it is the wisdom needed to gain eternal life. It begins with the fear of the Lord and is the principal thing to get, with understanding. It is knowledge of the divinely ordained plan for bringing man back into harmony with God to copy the perfect pattern of Christ's character through repentance and faith, surrender of the will, and consecration of the affections to God. Obedience to its requirements is the first study and the first effort.
This wisdom is found in God's holy Word and is gained by studying and obeying the Bible, since spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. Without it worldly learning is of little worth. Those content with worldly wisdom and wise only in their own eyes remain ignorant of it, despising Scripture so that its deep truths in the Old and New Testaments stay obscure to them.
Faithful Response to Wisdom
The gain that comes from wisdom surpasses the value of silver and fine gold, and those who seek the knowledge of God treat it as above all hidden treasures. They prize the knowledge of God above material wealth, counting wisdom more precious than silver or gold.
The rich experience gained by following Christ is likewise more valuable than gold, silver, and precious stones. That experience includes keeping love for souls and serving others, whose worth exceeds all material wealth.
Solomon received this wisdom from God as more precious to him than the gold of Ophir, yet he surrendered the gift to lustful passion. His wives led him into idolatry, through which he lost firmness of character and became separated from God, the source of his strength. Wisdom must therefore be guarded by principle and dependence on God throughout life.
The gain from wisdom is worth more than fine gold and precious stones, making wisdom a richer adornment for the soul than golden ornaments are for the body. Effort should therefore be spent seeking wisdom rather than on outward fashion and adorning the outward appearance with gold.