Proverbs 16:16

How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Gold and silver are good for providing financial security. As long as one possesses these metals, he can feel confident that he has something of value if

– he is willing to part with them when he is hungry or needs shelter or medical care
– they are not stolen
– they retain their value when economic conditions plummet – they do not make him greedy for more
– they do not take the place of what should have been spent on taking care of others
– they do not prevent spending money on what would have blessed others
– he is not possessed with fear of losing them

Gold and silver are nothing but objects granted value by man. Wisdom and understanding are traits of man used to give or reduce that value. Objects are only as valuable as the wisdom of man knows how to use them. Gold does not add to wisdom and is likely to have a corrupting effect. Wisdom adds value to gold and to everything else. There is no greater security than wisdom, even more so than power. There is no likelier path to contentment than through wisdom. Certainly there is no other asset more valuable to make a difference in the life of others than that of wisdom.

And it is wisdom the wisdom that comes from God that will lead one to eternal life. How much better to get the wisdom of the gospel than to fall into eternal judgment possessing all the gold of the world. How much better to get understanding of the riches of Christ than to be deceived by the riches of the world.