GOLD, SILVER AND PRECIOUS STONES

Proverbs 3:13-18 (KJV)

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

The passage we are going to consider is Proverbs but, as a means of introduction I want to point your attention to,

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (KJV)

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The Bible describes a day of judgment for the Christian in heaven at an event called the Judgment Seat of Christ.

It is not a judgment of sin but of a life lived for Christ while on this earth.

The Bible describes that judgment like this:

Every one of use will stand before the Lord and receive our rewards: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble.

Those rewards will then pass through a fire.

·   The gold, silver and precious stones, of course, will survive

·   The wood, hay and stubble will not

I don’t want to make the connection too tight, but I do see a similarity between that and our passage.

Wisdom, understanding and (I will throw in knowledge because it is listed in chapter one) is the gold, silver and precious stones in our text.

Gold, silver and rubies – they are the wood, hay and stubble.

Why wisdom is better….

I notice six things wisdom provides:

I. LONG LIFE

Proverbs 3:16 (KJV)

Length of days is in her right hand…

Length of days is a relative term.

Some people live much longer than others and it isn’t always because they do things just right.

·   There are people who have lived to 100 years taking a shot of whiskey every day. They swear it’s what kept them alive.

·   Doctors tells us alcohol will ruin our livers and kill us early.

·   There are people who lived very healthy and fit lives and drop dead of a heart attack while out jogging.

·   Doctors tell us that regular exercise is essential for living a long life.

·   Thin people can die young just as easily as over weight people

·   Over weight people can live long happy lives just as easily as thin people.

Here’s the fact – God has our days numbered.

He knows exactly how long we will live and it has nothing to do with any of that.

Except that wisdom doesn’t tread on God’s grace.

Matthew 4:6-7 (KJV)

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

II. RICHES

Proverbs 3:16 (KJV)

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches …

John Gill says,

“…by "riches" are meant not temporal riches, for these are not always to the wise, nor to the children of Wisdom, nor of Christ; and all that have these are not happy, nor are they durable: but spiritual riches are intended, the riches of grace; of pardoning, justifying, and sanctifying grace, and of all supplies of grace; and also the riches of glory, which are solid and satisfying, immense and unsearchable, lasting and durable…”

A wise person is likely to have the tools of mind and character to create an income.

But wisdom always knows that there are things much more valuable than physical substance.

III. HONOR

Proverbs 3:16 (KJV)

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Godliness doesn’t always win us the honor of this world.

Just this week I had a conversation with someone who got very mad at me because he did not like my position on what the Bible teaches.

I did what I believe to have been the honorable thing.

I did not gain honor from him.

However:

·   I have a clear conscience that I obeyed the Bible rather than buckled under this man’s pressure and

·   I have the certain hope of honor before the Lord for trying to do what is right.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 (KJV)

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

True honor is in pleasing God, not men.

IV. PLEASANT and PEACEFUL PATH

Proverbs 3:17 (KJV)

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Having said that this man got mad at me this week, I can also testify that Godly wisdom lends itself to a life that is both pleasant and peaceful.

That doesn’t mean that difficult things never happen, it means that godly wisdom avoids some kinds of unpleasantness that many people plunge into headlong.

V. TREE OF LIFE

Proverbs 3:18 (KJV)

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: …

The way I understand it, Adam and Eve could have lived forever IF they had access to the tree of life.

When they sinned, God drove them from the Garden of Eden and put Cheribims to guard the entrance so they could not get to the tree of life.

·   Length of days is long life

·   The tree of life is vehicle that delivers it

Wisdom is like a fruit that feeds the body so that it may live, well and healthy.

Finally wisdom provides

VI. HAPPINESS

Proverbs 3:18 (KJV)

… and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Happiness is not the lack of sorrow.

Happiness is the contentment of knowing that there is nothing between our soul and the Saviour.

Conclusion

There are Christians who live their whole lives amassing things like gold silver and rubies but will find out in eternity that they were nothing but wood hay and stubble.

But those who feared the Lord and sought in this life to know Him and the power of His resurrection – will find that in eternity they are the one who have that which cannot be taken away - gold, silver and precious stones.