I’d Rather Have Wisdom than Silver or Gold

Proverbs 3:13-35

Main Idea: Wisdom ( Jesus) is the superior treasure above all else.

1. Wisdom Will Give You an Abundant and Eternal Life (3:13-18).
2. Wisdom Will Give You a Perception of How the World Works (3:19-20).
3. Wisdom Will Give You Peace of Mind (3:21-26).
4. Wisdom Will Give You God’s Blessing Instead of His Judgment (3:27-35).

When my ( Jon’s) girls see commercials for toys or dolls or new Lalaloopsies, they exclaim, “I have to have that! Mom, can I get it? Dad, can I get it?” At Christmas time or for their birthdays, we have a hard time getting them to narrow in on a few items they want. We have to ask them things like, “If you could only get one thing, which would you want?” We want to determine what their heart is set on above all else.

What about you? What one thing do you want most? What in life do you have to have? Often commercials can awaken us to our desires. Maybe there are things you just have to possess, foods you just have to consume, or relationships you just have to have. What’s the superior treasure in your life that you wake up thinking about, go to sleep dreaming about, and spend your day planning to get? It may be money, stuff, sex, success, or any number of things.

Wisdom—Jesus—is the treasure that is superior to all that we can set our hearts on. Solomon will tell us in Proverbs 3:13-35 to seek Wisdom first, above all else. When Solomon wrote these words he was encouraging his son to commit to study this book—Proverbs. But in the fullness of time, the Spirit has revealed to us that Wisdom is a person—Jesus Christ. We are to seek him—the pearl of great price—above all else, and all these other things will be provided for us (Matt 6:33). If we set our supreme desire on things—even good things—it will prove disappointing. It may even wreck our lives. But when we set our supreme desire on Jesus, we are able to enjoy these other things as gifts that cause our hearts to praise Jesus for providing them.

Wisdom Will Give You an Abundant and Eternal Life

Proverbs 3:13-18

Proverbs 3:13-18 is a poem or a hymn about the supreme value of wisdom. As we’ve seen, Solomon has personified his wisdom as a beautiful woman. He says to get her above anything else. Again, in the fullness of time (Gal 4:4), the New Testament revealed to us that this personification pointed to a real person—Jesus of Nazareth—whom we can know and pursue and treasure above all else. The benefits of wisdom are given here to motivate us to be with her at any cost. The idea is to get wisdom because it leads to a happy and blessed life. We see that this idea brackets the poem (“happy” in vv. 13 and 18). This is called an inclusio (Garrett, Proverbs, 257). Garrett points out that this passage is a hymn and is bracketed by “blessing” at the beginning and end. Solomon gives a beatitude: Blessed or happy will be the one who gets Wisdom—Jesus.

Wisdom’s profits are better than silver, gold, or jewels. Wisdom is better than money and stuff. Wisdom is better because it cannot be lost or destroyed (see Matt 6; moth and rust destroy money and stuff). Wisdom is better because, as we saw in verses 1-12, it shapes you into the kind of person who can enjoy these things in the proper context. To paraphrase Waltke, money can put food on the table but not fellowship around it. Money can buy you a house, but it cannot produce a home. Money can give a woman jewelry, but it cannot buy her real love (Proverbs, Chapters 1–15, 257). Wisdom is better than that. Wisdom gives physical, spiritual, and relational blessings. Proverbs teaches us that wisdom creates happy homes, loving marriages, and treasures that cannot be valued by marketplace prices. Riches won’t ultimately make you happy, but Solomon says that wisdom will. The main reason is that wisdom is ultimately not a thing; Wisdom is a person you can have a personal relationship with—Jesus.

So get Jesus at any cost because nothing you could ever desire compares with him. Wisdom is better than anything you can desire, so grab her and don’t let her go. Jesus—like the kingdom of God, the pearl of great price, the treasure in the field (Matt 13:44-46)—is worth selling all that you have to get him. Is there something that you desire more than Jesus? What is supremely valuable to you? Even if you wouldn’t say it out loud, in your mind do you think, “Well, for me to be happy, of course I need Jesus, but I also need a happy marriage. I need Jesus plus ______.” What is it that you have to have in addition to Jesus? I need Jesus plus a promotion. I need Jesus plus the right car. I need Jesus plus a house in the right neighborhood. I need Jesus plus romance. I need Jesus plus financial security. I need Jesus plus the perfect Christmas card photo of a family. Whatever you put in that blank is what you treasure most, since you’ve given it the same status as Jesus.

Solomon exhorts us through the Spirit that if our heart is set supremely on the stuff of this life as the means to happiness, then we may lose those things, and happiness will certainly elude us. But if you set your heart supremely on Jesus, then you will certainly get true happiness, and he may provide you other things to enjoy in their proper context. But true happiness can only be found if Jesus is our supreme treasure. Seek wisdom above all else, and these other things will be provided for you. Solomon knows this. In 1 Kings 3 the Lord told Solomon he would grant whatever Solomon asked for. Amazing! If you could ask God for one thing, what would it be? Solomon could’ve asked for riches, long life, victory over his enemies, or the most glorious empire any king has ever ruled; but instead he asked for wisdom above all else. So the Lord gave him supreme wisdom; and the Lord also provided long life, money, and victory over his enemies.

So Solomon tells us in Proverbs 3:16-17 that getting wisdom above all else will add long life, riches, a good reputation, and a pleasant course of life. Wow! You get to live longer because the wise and pleasant paths you are walking help you avoid the pitfalls that lead to an early death, and you receive honor because those paths help you avoid things that will damage your reputation. Living a life of risky and foolish behavior as laid out in this book—whether it be sexual sin, violent behavior, or not being able to control your tongue—may lead to an early death or at least a ruined reputation. On the other hand, heeding the wisdom of this book will lead to wealth since hard work instead of laziness, spending wisely rather than frivolously, and saving for down times will ensure that you have the provision you need. Again, following the wisdom of this book will generally lead to these blessings right now, but they will always ultimately lead to these blessings. Proverbs are promises that are generally true now, but they are always ultimately true.

Wisdom—Jesus—is the tree of life (see Gen 2). The tree of life is only mentioned in Genesis, Proverbs, and Revelation. Eating from this tree will give you immortality (Gen 3:22). Wisdom ( Jesus) is the path to eternal life. This entire poem is calling us back to paradise at creation. Proverbs 3:13 said that happy is a “man” who finds wisdom, but the Hebrew word used there is “Adam.” Solomon reveals that what was lost in Eden by human sin and what separated humanity from Yahweh is now available again through Wisdom. Indeed, in the garden humankind reached for knowledge apart from God and his Word. Adam and Eve sought to determine for themselves right and wrong. As a result, they became unwise and inherited death. But if we will humble ourselves and take hold of Jesus, we will receive back what was lost in Eden. We will be given the knowledge of good and evil, the tree of life, and the shalom of the untarnished creation. That is a happy life indeed (v. 18).

So seek Wisdom—Jesus—first, and all these other blessings will be provided for you!

Wisdom Will Give You a Perception of How the World Works

Proverbs 3:19-20

Yahweh created the whole world by wisdom, so there’s a wise order to the world. The mention of the earth and the heavens in verse 19 is what scholars call a “merism.” A merism is where the whole is communicated by mentioning its extremities (Murphy, Pocket Dictionary, 107). For example, earth (the ground) and the heavens (the sky) are used to talk about the whole of creation. Or consider, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Ps 103:12). This communicates that as far as our sins could possibly be removed from us, they have been. Solomon says the Lord created the whole of the cosmos by means of wisdom. This is not surprising because wisdom is a skill used for building in the Old Testament (e.g., the tabernacle in Exod 31; the temple in 1 Kgs 7; and now creation itself, which was the original sanctuary of God).

This is why wisdom is so valuable. There is a wise order to the world. The world works in a certain way—according to the pattern of ­wisdom—so you can know the order and live by it if you possess wisdom. In a fallen world that has been broken by sin, this order generally works out now; but it will always work out later. Wisdom gives you the ability to perceive God’s order and live by it. You must live by this order. Don’t try to live against the grain because that is ruinous. Microwaves were designed to work in a certain way. Certain materials are not supposed to go into them. One time my ( Jon’s) youngest brother was eating something from Taco Bell, and he had some sauce packets he had saved in the fridge. He wanted to warm the sauce up, so he put the packet in the microwave. What happened next? A light show on par with the Fourth of July went off in our microwave! That’s true with creation as well. If you live against the grain of how things work or how wisdom has ordered the world, it will go badly for you. Solomon tells us in Proverbs 6 that we can observe ants and deduce that hard work will lead to provision and laziness will lead to poverty. You can observe that a soft answer cools fury. Dishonesty in the justice system will destroy a society. That’s just the way that the world works, and trying to live against its order is suicidal.

This wise order is also Christ-centered. It points to him. God created the world through Jesus ( John 1; Col 1), and Jesus is the one who upholds the world right now by his Word (Heb 1). Also, all things are being united in Christ (Eph 1), so all things are centered on him, including the created order. For example, the seasons point to Christ. There’s a reason God created the seasons to work in such a way that flowers and plant life die in the winter and come back to life in the spring. That reason is Jesus of Nazareth—to point to his death and resurrection. Since the created order is centered on Christ, you must know him in order to perceive and live according to the order. The order is personal because he is the one who created and upholds the world.

Wisdom Will Give You Peace of Mind

Proverbs 3:21-26

Solomon appeals to his son to not let wisdom and discretion depart from his sight because they are life (vv. 21-22). Keep the wisdom of this book through Jesus, and it will keep you secure from the ruin of the wicked when that comes (v. 25). Solomon’s point is that wisdom keeps you safe from sudden trouble. That’s why you should get wisdom above all else. You will walk safely during the days of your life, and you will sleep peacefully at night. This is an appeal from a parent who desperately wants his child to be safe. Don’t we all? He says you won’t stumble if you keep walking on the wise path (again, this is generally true now but always ultimately true).

Wisdom will give you a good night’s sleep without worry (v. 24). You will sleep well because you haven’t done the foolish things that cause you to stay awake worrying. You won’t be afraid that you’ll get caught or be found out. You won’t have to lie awake thinking to yourself, What if she reads that e-mail? What if he runs into that person? Who else knows about this? How can I make sure this never gets out? Walking in wisdom and avoiding the foolishness of sin will keep your conscience clear and your mind free from worry. And if you get wisdom, you will ultimately be safe because Yahweh is the one who watches over you all day long (v. 26). God Almighty will be looking out for you! The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, and he will keep those who fear him safe.

Wisdom Will Give You God’s Blessing Instead of His Judgment

Proverbs 3:27-35

Solomon moves from our vertical relationship with Yahweh (v. 26) to our horizontal relationships with others. Wisdom teaches that if your vertical relationship with the Lord is right your other relationships will be right in everyday life. One practical example of keeping this wisdom as Solomon has exhorted is being a good neighbor. You are not wise or in a right relationship with the Lord if you’re not a good neighbor. If you love God, you will love your neighbor.

Solomon first mentions two sins of omission (failing to do good), and then he mentions two sins of commission (doing something bad). Solomon says to not withhold good from those to whom it’s due when it is in your power to do it (v. 27). This refers to giving something good to someone who deserves it or needs it when you have the means. This could be giving a fair wage or money to a person in need. This could be a meal, clothes, a tool your neighbor is lacking, or some other physical aid. The wise are attentive to the needs of their community. They are the neighbors everyone wants to have.

There was a communal life in the Old Testament, where the people of Israel were called to care for each other’s property. This is true in the body of Christ as well. First John 3:17-18 says,

If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and intruth.

Proverbs 3:28 fleshes this out. Don’t delay in doing good if you have the means. Don’t put it off because you’re lazy, and then forget. Don’t put it off because you are indifferent or selfish. Don’t just try to get rid of the person with an excuse like, “I don’t have any cash on me.” Right then, go the extra mile to meet the need. Failing to do good to your neighbor when it is in your power is foolish and wicked. It is sin.

Solomon moves from failing to do good to actively doing evil. Don’t plan evil against your neighbor who lives trustingly beside you (v. 29). Don’t accuse your neighbor without reason if they haven’t wronged you (v. 30). This can refer to a false accusation for gain. You accuse them out of jealousy, or you do so in order to get something that belongs to them. Solomon acknowledges that it’s OK to seek justice if there is an appropriate cause. You may have to take a neighbor to court to stop some injustice against your family, but you don’t do it out of spite or to get even with them. And Paul makes clear that within the body of Christ this is not appropriate at all (1 Cor 6).

Finally, Solomon exhorts his son not to envy the violent person who seems to prosper because of his schemes. There are times when it looks like following Wisdom—following Jesus—doesn’t work like we think it should, and following the ways of evil can lead to short-term success. I mentored a guy several years back who was distraught when he came to meet me for breakfast. I asked him what was wrong, and he told me that a guy he worked with came into work cursing because he had accidentally gotten his girlfriend pregnant. This crushed my friend because he and his wife had begged God for a baby and it wasn’t happening for them, but this guy was sinning and got a baby that he didn’t want! There are times in this fallen world when it may look like the path of sin is the path to getting what we want. Solomon acknowledges that some people do use their power to manipulate and abuse others to get what they want, and they get it. You might be tempted to jealousy and to adopting their ways when you see their success. Solomon pleads with his son not to envy these people because in the end the tables will turn. In the end, they lose.

Judgment will fall. God opposes these people, so they will not prosper forever. And God is for you if you belong to his Son; and that means even if you don’t prosper right now, you will later. Yes, there’s an order to the world where things work out in a certain way. Yes, in a fallen world it doesn’t always work out immediately. But God stands behind the order upholding it, and he will call for a reckoning on the last day. There will be a judgment. When the order works out in the here and now, when fools are struck with poverty, lose their family, or irreparably damage their reputation, that is merely a foretaste of the ultimate reckoning they will receive on the last day. And when the wise have plenty, a happy family, and a good standing in the community, that also is merely a foretaste of the glory to come. But even if these things don’t work out immediately, God will see to it that they do in the end.

Wisdom has its rewards, and Solomon holds them out to his son as a motivation to get wisdom. If you believe that Wisdom—Jesus—can make good on these rewards, then you will walk in these ways. The devious person—the person who goes against the created order—is detestable to Yahweh (3:32). And judgment will fall on you if you do not follow the golden rule to do unto others as you want them to do unto you. Solomon says there’s a curse on the house of the wicked but blessing on the house of the righteous (v. 33). This encourages and warns us that our actions affect more than just us. The sins of the parents will affect the children, and the righteousness of parents trying their best to walk after Jesus will affect them positively. This is language from Deuteronomy 27–30. There is a choice between blessing (life) and curses (death) in obedience and disobedience. There is a choice between honor and dishonor here (Prov 3:34-35). Don’t mock or you’ll be mocked. Humble yourself to receive grace from the Lord.

Conclusion

Jesus is the Wisdom of God, but he’s also the wise son of Proverbs who humbled himself, took on the curse for us, and offers us the blessings of wisdom. He truly is more precious than silver, more costly than gold, and more beautiful than diamonds. As George Beverly Shea used to sing,

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

I’d rather be His than have riches untold;

I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands.

I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain

Or be held in sin’s dread sway.

I’d rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

(Rhea F. Miller, “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” 1922)

Yes, riches can be great, long life is something we all hope for, having a good reputation is precious, being able to sleep in peace at night is priceless, but Jesus is better than any and all of these things. Seek him above all of these, and you might just find that he adds these other things to you in the process.

Reflect and Discuss

1. Are you seeking or chasing after the wisdom that is Christ? Or are you in pursuit of the misunderstood prosperity that is believed to be included in the blessings of wisdom?
2. How does the prosperity gospel, often preached in today’s culture, affect the true pursuit of wisdom (Christ)?
3. What efforts do you take to protect your family or yourself morally?
4. Walking in wisdom can protect you from sin. What efforts are you making to have this peace of mind?
5. Solomon exhorted his son to be a good neighbor. We should follow this exhortation, but it is good to ask, who is my neighbor? How is being a good neighbor somewhat countercultural in today’s society?
6. As followers of Christ, what often prevents us from meeting known needs? What part of the culture today tells us to ignore the needs of others?
7. Solomon refers to two types of sin: omission and commission. Is one more detrimental to the Christian life than the other? In what ways can you avoid the pitfalls of each one?
8. How does the pursuit of wisdom keep you from chasing the things of this world when you see others who are not pursuing wisdom have earthly gains that you may miss?
9. Do the promised rewards of wisdom provide comfort or worry, since they may not come until you are in glory? Why?
10. Personified Wisdom changes the outlook of seeking wisdom. Instead of seeking knowledge, you are now seeking someone. How does this affect your pursuit of wisdom?