A quick Google search returns several books with this title, a never-ending list of links that promise to help you become rich, and enough methods, steps, and secrets concerning wealth to make your head spin. But they are all missing a crucial aspect concerning being rich—Proverbs 16:16.
"How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver."
The Book of Proverbs teaches us that there is something more important than money—wisdom. But, come on, really? I can think of at least ten ways I would immediately benefit by somehow acquiring millions of dollars. But thinking of how I would benefit from having more wisdom isn’t as easy. I guess I could come up with a couple ( if I was forced to).
Our first thought, if we're honest, would be to reverse this Proverb. Rather than understanding and wisdom, give us silver and gold! We can spend now and worry about the problems later. Our culture feeds into this brokenness. It tells us that our problems can be solved by ‘stuff’; by having and spending money. No culture makes and spends money quite like ours, but people don’t seem to be getting any happier (it actually seems like the opposite is happening). Maybe we should give this Proverb a deeper look.
3 Reasons Wisdom is Better Than Gold
1. One can have all the material wealth that their heart desires but, without wisdom, there is a good chance they will squander and waste what they have been given. And don’t just think about savings accounts and IRA’s here. I’m talking about how it takes wisdom to recognize and understand that material wealth is to be used to advance the Kingdom of God. Without wisdom, there is a good chance someone only uses their wealth in a selfish way which brings about no eternal rewards. Without wisdom, we are likely to use all that we have in a way that hurts us and others.
2. Take a moment to think of all the decisions you have to make. Depending on your age, you may have already made some of the major ones. But we all have one thing in common concerning our lives—they keep changing. This means we will always have to be adjusting and making decisions. And that’s not always easy. It takes some real wisdom to navigate some of the curves this world throws at you. And your decisions affect more than just yourself. Your children's eternities can be affected by your decisions. That alone should have us begging God for wisdom. Despite what you may think, you will not be able to cut God a check so that your family will be in heaven. It's going to take some wise and right decisions during our earthly lives.
3. Don’t confuse wisdom with being smart—it’s so much more than that. Wisdom is understanding what God says and then doing it.
There are a lot of smart people in our world, but not a lot of wise people.
When we obey the Word of God—which is wisdom—we are ensuring we will live blessed lives. Obedience to God’s Word provides a safety, comfort, and a security that no amount of money will be able to. Additionally, we could lose everything and still have joy because we have faithfully and wisely obeyed the Lord.
Good or Bad?
The Bible doesn't say wealth is bad. A lot of the men and women who are commended for their faith in Scripture were wealthy. But the Bible will never let us think that material is the most important part of life. It's not even an indicator of having received blessings from God. Please don't make the mistake of pursuing material over wisdom (obedience to God). One day, you will regret it.