Rather Than Gold

In the Proverbs, there are six things you should choose rather than gold and silver.  In the world, men usually measure success by their net worth.  And even when they are in good churches, given the right offers, they will change employers and residences just to make more money.

If you are like most people, you will spend the greatest portion of your life accumulating wealth, buying expensive toys, and taking nice vacations to deal with the stress.

Before you get bogged down in this loop, consider what the wealthy man, Solomon, said about choosing gold.  He said that you ought to choose the following six things rather than gold.

Instruction – Prov 8:10.  “Receive my instruction and not silver”.  One of our main objectives in preaching is to give you practical instruction that will help you grow.  Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.  However, these reproofs do you no good if you’re not here to receive them.  If you’re too busy working or too tired from working t receive instruction, you need to fill your priorities. Solomon said it’s better to receive instruction.

Knowledge – Prov 8:10. “And knowledge rather than choice gold”.  You accumulate knowledge of the words of God by reading and studying them.  Plus, there are many good resources available to you from other men that can help you know the word of God.  But if you’re too busy chasing the almighty dollar, you will never gain knowledge.  Far too many people have Bibles that show no wear and tear from searching the scriptures for the knowledge of God.  You may not see the relative difference in value between the amount of your paycheck and the amount of your knowledge of God. The knowledge of God is more valuable.

Wisdom – Prov 16:16. “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold”.  Wisdom begins with the fear of God.  And you’re not going to know the fear of God without the first two things we’ve discussed.  Plus, you must “apply thine ear unto wisdom”, Prov 2:1-6.  You get wisdom from wise men.  But when you put a greater value on money than you do on wisdom, you’re not going to take the time to get wisdom.  Yet, wisdom is better than gold.

Understanding – Prov 16:16.  “And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver”.  Once you start receiving instruction and knowledge, and you start accumulating wisdom, you will begin to understand things in the word of God.  One of the best ways to get understanding is to take time to meditate upon and sort out the word of God as it applies to life and particularly to your life.  But if you’re too busy to even read and study, you’re never going to get understanding in the word.

A good name – Prov 22:1.  “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches”.  Nabal chose great riches and he didn’t have a good name.  Even his wife, Abigail, said he was fool just like his name, 1 Sam 25:25.  Many rich men are despised.

Abraham, on the other hand, had a very good name, though he accumulated great wealth.  He didn’t pursue wealth like Lot did.  God blessed him with wealth.  His name was changed from Abram, meaning High Father, to Abraham, meaning a Father of many nations, Gen 17:5,  He is called the friend of God, Jas 2:23.   That’s a name money can’t buy.

Loving favour – Prov 22:1.  “And loving favour rather than silver and gold”.  Two of the greatest names in the Bible are Joseph and Daniel.  Nothing is known of their wealth.  They didn’t serve for money.  Joseph was sold into slavery and Daniel was taken into captivity.  But look at their favour, Gen 39:6, Gen 39:21, Dan 1:9.  Loving favour by those over them was worth more than gold.  Money could’t buy what they obtained by loving favour.

Conclusion: check yourself against this list in Proverbs and see whether your time is invested wisely in the six things that are more valuable than gold.  Choose these six rather than gold and silver.