Wise Accounting

Read Proverbs 8

Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.

Proverbs 8:10-11

Silver, gold, rubies—sounds like the standard fare of royalty. Who among us does not strive for a certain amount of wealth, comfort, and security? We may not have precious metals and jewels on our wish lists, but we all set goals and strive to achieve certain standards of success. While gold, silver, and jewels are fine in themselves, they should never be our ultimate goal, nor should they be obtained in wrongful ways. The writer says that we should choose instruction, knowledge, and wisdom far above anything else in this life.

The trappings of success are nothing without wisdom and understanding to go along with them. We all know very rich people who have acted foolishly in business or in their family lives. They may have it all, but they are the most unhappy and bitter people around. Ultimately, a person who has nothing but wisdom is by far the richest person of all.

A WORD FOR TODAY

We can’t desire anything worth more than wisdom.

Today, Lord, show me where my priorities are wrong so that I will be striving for the right things in the right way.