“Better Than Money!” – FBC Morning Light (5/23/2024)

Well, a good Thursday morning to you. I hope you're doing well this week thus far, and your work week is going well, and Lord is just blessing the labors of your hands.

Well, today in our Bible reading, we're reading Proverbs 8 through 10, and focusing on one main idea today.

Let me ask you this, don't put the answer in the comments section or anything like that, but what's your net worth?

How big is your bank account? I'm sure most of us would not be able to say, you know, wow,

I am really, really financially well off. I'm set for life. I'll never have to worry about, you know, never have to worry about anything financially.

It's just all good. I'm wealthy. Most of us aren't in such a position as that,

I don't imagine, and that's okay. You know, you and I, we may never come to much financial gain, but by the grace of God, we can acquire something that is far more valuable, and what might that be?

Well, divine wisdom that's offered through God's revelation.

This is what we read about in chapter 8 of the book of Proverbs. The writer, and this would be

Solomon, he says, Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Why? Because wisdom, he says, is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared to her.

So, I'm sure you have probably heard of people who have great wealth, but not much wisdom.

I mean, biblical wisdom, a wisdom that is informed by God's revelation, and they're

Psalm 73 wealthy people, whose end is going to be a bitter one.

Man, there's not much value in all that wealth that's been amassed, is there?

But on the other hand, you also probably know some people who, by the providence of God, they don't have a lot, they live in a modest home, they have modest means, they don't drive fancy cars, and all that kind of stuff, but they're happy, they're content, the joy of the

Lord marks their lives, they're used graciously of the Lord in their church and with other people, they have a good positive influence, and they just exude biblical wisdom.

Now, who's better off, really? Who's more wealthy when all is said and done?

And when you think about that, think about all the effort that people put into acquiring and amassing wealth.

It's been noted many times that some of the wealthy people say things like this when asked the question, how much more do you really need to have?

And they say, just a little bit more, just a little bit more. There's never enough, there's never a sense of contentment.

So, there's just this constant drive to acquire more, to have a bigger and bigger and bigger portfolio and bank account and net worth and all the rest of that stuff.

Well, I think if we're wise, we will have that same kind of passion or effort or diligence put into the acquiring of wisdom.

And this is what the proverb says, wisdom is speaking here, it's wisdom personified speaking in verse 17 of chapter 8, and it says this,

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness.

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.

I traverse the way of righteousness, says wisdom, in the midst of the paths of justice that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, true wealth, that I may fill their treasuries with true, true treasure.

How is such acquired? How is such acquired? I love those who love me, who seek me.

Where does all this start, this quest for wisdom? Chapter 9 tells us, in chapter 9, verse 10, says the fear of the

Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. It starts with God, it starts with God's self -revelation.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Start there and build on it, grow in wisdom from the revelation that God has given us of himself, knowing him and getting a greater and deeper understanding of him, what he is like and what he likes.

Therein is wisdom, therein is true wealth and treasure.

May we seek it, may we find it. Our Father and our God, I pray, give us a heart to seek after you, a heart to seek your wisdom, may we be informed by it, may our lives be enriched by it, we pray in Jesus' name and for his sake, amen.