"My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries" (Proverbs 8:19-21).
Today's passage says that those who love wisdom gain wealth. It is a fact of life that material goods can be replenished with skill and hard work. Keeping one's treasuries full happens as a result of a person's skill which is refined by wisdom. There are many times in Proverbs when Solomon makes generalizations that have exceptions. There are certainly exceptions to this general truth. We all know some very wise and godly people who have not amassed great material wealth.
But we should not feel sorry for them. They have experienced something much more valuable than material wealth. Which brings us to the point.
The point that is being made, in light of one's ability to keep their treasuries full, is that there are benefits in life that are more valuable than fine gold and silver. Wisdom's fruit yields an amazing life; a life walked in the righteousness of God.
This kind of life is truly amazing because it yields benefits that are derived from "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (see Galatians 5:22).
If you want to know if you are truly rich, take a look at what your life is truly yielding. If it is yielding the fruit of God's Spirit, you are truly wealthy. If not, you are indeed poor, even if your natural skill has helped you amassed great worldly wealth.
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