Wisdom’s Value
I admit it, I love jewelry. I guess I inherited it from my sweet mother who won’t go out the door without it. We might be wearing comfy clothes, but we would feel like something is always missing if we don’t have our jewelry on.
As much as I love my silver and gold (and rose gold!), I know that these are only trinkets that matter little in light of eternity. My sweet husband has blessed me many times with a token of his love, and some of my pieces were handed down from past generations. They each carry special memories of the one they belonged to and I treasure them as much for the memory as I do for their material worth. But there is something much more valuable and even longer lasting than a precious stone or valuable metal:
“For wisdom is better than precious stones, and nothing desirable can compare with it.” Proverbs 8:11
This beautiful chapter is a fresh reminder for us that while our desires tend to be toward earthly things, our true heart’s desire should be for the One who has made our life beautiful–even when we are stripped of everything that the world calls valuable.
“My fruit is better than solid gold, and my harvest than pure silver.” Proverbs 8:19
If you have lived long enough you have seen those who have had wealth and fame, yet still have no satisfaction in life. If my husband adorned me with the finest of jewels but never said, “I Love You”, I could never be happy. While my hands might be loaded with gold and diamonds, they would feel empty without affection.
God’s desire for you is so much more than material wealth or possessions–He places value on YOU. Void of anything you have or anything you think you could even do for Him, His desire is for you to know Him. To seek Him. Yes, He wants you to have joy–joy in this journey of life He has called you to walk–but that only comes with Him by your side.
I was a skilled craftsman beside Him. I was His delight every day, always rejoicing before Him. I was rejoicing in His inhabited world, delighting in the human race. And now, [my] sons, listen to me; those who keep my ways are happy. Listen to instruction and be wise; don’t ignore it. Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors very day, waiting by the posts of my doorway. For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. Proverbs 8:30-35
A dear friend lost her mother yesterday. When her children gather around to say good-bye they will not be focusing on what she had or what she did–they will be remembering how she loved. The value placed on her life by the world doesn’t compare to her worth in the eyes of her family or her God.
Read Proverbs 8. Maybe today you and I need to be reminded to seek first His kingdom. His righteousness–and to trust Him to provide exactly what we need.
“So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” Matthew 6:31-33
