“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold… nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 3:13-15 NIV).
The three most sought after things in life are wealth, fame (or honor), and the proverbial “fountain of youth.” People will invest a lot of time and money to get these three things. They’ll pay to go to seminars on how to get rich. They’ll spend endless hours working to perfect their skill or talent. They’ll hire coaches, instructors, and talent managers, and do whatever it takes to become famous. And many people will spend a whole lot of money on all kinds of products, procedures, and surgeries that’ll make them look and stay young.
Now, going to financial seminars, working hard and hiring coaches to help perfect a skill or a talent, and doing what we can to stay young and healthy aren’t wrong. But God’s Word tells us exactly what the key is to get those three things, and that key is wisdom.
Proverbs 3:16 (NIV) talks about wisdom and says, “Long life is in her (wisdom’s) right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.” God doesn’t have a problem with us having any of those things, but if we seek those things apart from Him, then even if we obtain our goals, ultimately those things in and of themselves won’t make us happy.
Many people have obtained wealth and fame and live a long life, only to end up feeling empty and unfulfilled. Our happiness and fulfillment in life comes from God and from following His plan for our lives, using the gifts and talents He gave us to bless others, and living life in that way requires God’s wisdom.
Take Away:
The desires to be prosperous, honored, and live a long time are all desires that have been put inside of us by God. He wants us to have all those things. The issue lies in how we go about getting them. We can use man’s wisdom and go after them the world’s way, or, we can get God’s wisdom and obtain them God’s way. Just remember, the world’s way will leave you empty and unfulfilled. But God’s way will bring blessing, peace, and a happy, satisfied life.
