Proverbs 8: 18 - 21

Today’s verses discuss how wisdom is related to wealth. They speak of “true” wealth of the soul. They go on to say that once “true wealth” is gained, THEN they seem to indicate that earthly wealth may come, but the treasures that are “laid up in heaven” will definitely be there.

Proverbs 8: 18 - 21(NKJV)

18 Riches and honor are with me,

Enduring riches and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,

And my revenue than choice silver.

20 I traverse the way of righteousness,

In the midst of the paths of justice,

21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,

That I may fill their treasuries.

Verse 18 tells us that when we use Godly wisdom, “riches and honor” will be a part of our lives. Earthly “riches” are NOT “enduring.” Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV) says: 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus, who is teaching in this passage, goes on to say, in Matthew 6:24-33:
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Jesus, being the SON of God, was our true example of Godly Wisdom, come down to earth. He didn’t have a lot of earthly riches, just enough to live on, and he wasn’t worried about it because he had a wealth of the “true riches” in his heart. He trusted with the complete trust of KNOWING his loving father (God) would take care of his earthly needs, and that by “sowing” God’s words of wisdom in his teachings to others, he would reap a mighty harvest.

He, as God’s example to us, truly showed us how to walk in the “way of righteousness” and in the “paths of justice.” If we follow his example and use wisdom to walk in his footsteps, then we will “inherit wealth,” and have our “treasuries,” the ones that really matter, filled.

Jesus walked this earth as a man, so that he could truly FEEL our pain, trials, AND temptations, but by keeping his eyes centered on God and HIS wisdom AT ALL TIMES, he was able to live a sinless life and be able to be “obedient, even unto death.” He now has ALL of the vast riches of heaven at his disposal. Truly, God’s wisdom ultimately led him to “inherit wealth,” and we can be “joint heirs” with him. We just need to “keep our eyes on the prize…!”