Thoughts on the topic of money from the book of wisdom
The book of Proverbs has much to say about the topic of money. Very much! So many verses that I have created categories that will help me focus on particular topics related to money, such as worth of money, value of money, effect of money, greed for money and money and the Lord.
In our first post on the topic of money, I had an extended introduction on the intangible assets such as instruction, knowledge, understanding and wisdom that is compared with money in the proverbs, along with a short discussion on each of these intangible assets. I also tried to define the difference between worth and value in the first post. If there is interest in this topic, please see Proverbial Thoughts on Money / Instruction.
Otherwise, our topic in this post is money in relation to knowledge.
2 – Worth of Money
Worth Less than Knowledge
Proverbs 24:4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Which of the assets are worth more to the owner? To answer this question make the assumption that the source or ability to produce something is of far more worth than that which is produced.
This concept was personalized one day in my own life, in a very short conversation with a friend of mine, discussing the best use of our funds and efforts in this life. The discussion came down to how to invest effort and funds in the short term to realize the best return. Now for the sake of context, I was in school for training in the engineering field, while my dear friend was considering an investment in purchasing a small business.
The crux of the argument fell to a short pithy conclusion by my friend, stating that an investment in knowledge would produce greater returns than an investment in a “thing”, though it had inherent value in and of itself.
Though this is merely a worldly example that for my own life has proved true, the principle for this post is that knowledge is worth more than money. With knowledge, money may be earned. Without knowledge, money may be available for a time, but may also be lost quickly. The proverbs are rife with sayings that typify the adage – A fool and his money are soon parted.
Though it is a merely worldly principle, I assume Solomon was providing this proverbs to be extended into all parts of life, especially related to the knowledge of God. Is it not of much more worth to know God and out of that knowledge accumulate rooms full of precious and pleasant (intangible) articles?
Also, to know God, as opposed to simply having rooms of articles is obviously the very plight we have in the modern world. How many have sought, without appealing to the God of all creation, to increase their rooms and have died lonely, sad and heartbroken.
Many may claim they are happy with full rooms and no God, but I suspect, based on, personal experience with those without, that an honest confession of their lives would produce a far different message.
Understanding that knowledge produces articles, and that articles are not produced in the absence of knowledge, provides us the inestimable worth of knowledge when compared with money.
Beyond the base comparison just considered, introduce the benefits of the knowledge of the Most High, producing precious and pleasant (intangible) articles, while also giving opportunity to enjoy precious and pleasant riches in this life.
Money is worth less than knowledge!
Proverbs 20:15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Solomon goes on to compare costly stones and gold with a precious jewel. This one seems to equate money with knowledge, as they both are described as costly stones or jewels. Is that the intent of Solomon?
The Hebrew word used for jewel in this verse is typically translated as a vessel. The word may be one that is so general, the translators associated this word with the previously mentioned costly stones. This is mere conjecture on my part, yet the verse may speak of the lips of knowledge as a precious vessel. Beyond this possibility, some translations bring into the verse the comparative worth between the two items, namely money (good and costly stones) and knowledge.
Consider.
Proverbs 20:15 (NLT) Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.
Proverbs 20:15 (NASB) There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
Proverbs 20:16 (YLT) Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, are lips of knowledge.
Note that the Young’s Literal Translation, though difficult to get a flow of message, actually translates jewel as “vessel” while providing the comparison. It is as if Solomon is speaking of substance gold and rubies as something that is available, but how precious are lips of knowledge.
And given the term precious in our verse, this term brings with it the concepts of honor and esteem. This, as we have discussed many times in this blog, was the ultimate goal in the honor/shame based society the Old Testament saint lived in.
With this verse packed with a message that goods are inferior to knowledge, let us remember our priorities in the midst of this culture that speaks otherwise.
To “know” is a source of wealth, and to “know” is a source of honor. Money simply acquires things that will burn up, and at death will be left behind.
Whether in the physical or the spiritual arena of life, knowledge far outweighs the mere possession of things, be they little or be they much.
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One response to “Proverbial Thoughts on Money / Knowledge”
[…] (see Proverbial Thoughts on Money / Instruction) and the tasks of accumulating knowledge (See Proverbial Thoughts on Money / Knowledge). Either way, he is directing us to take things of some worth, be it our time or our possessions, […]
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