"All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you desire cannot compare with her" (Proverbs 8:8-11).
This passage is very similar to Proverbs 3:13-15. If I didn't know better, I would think Solomon did a little "cutting and pasting" here. But he didn't. He simply does what is necessary to drive the point home. He repeats, reiterates, and reinforces truth by saying it one more time. Hoping that if we didn't catch the truth the first time, we will catch it this time.
The message is clear: wisdom is better than gold, silver, and jewels. I know it is hard for some of us to believe this, but it's true. The very nature of wisdom should convince us of this truth. Wisdom sends us down the right path. It is the path that is straight. It does not confuse us with any deceptive twists and turns.
Confusion is caused when we believe that which is not true about life. Lies about how life can be full and meaningful apart from our Creator. Lies about us being able to save ourselves. The twisted and distorted message that life can be fulfilling if only we had enough money. The enemy wants us to believe the stairs are going down and not up.
Let's grasp the life giving truth that wisdom offers. Let's not be duped into thinking that silver, gold, and jewels fill the emptiness we all experience in life. Life is designed to be lived in intimate fellowship with our Creator. The gaps that are formed by the break in that relationship will never be filled by material things.
God is shooting straight with us in this Proverb. May we all find ourselves traveling the straight path on which wisdom points. May we not be coaxed into leaving that path in search of that which will never fill the gaps of our lives.
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