Proverbs 3:14 “for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold”
As a new Christian, I wanted to understand how I could best say thank you to God for the new life he had given me. I was willing to do pretty much anything that would be a blessing to God and to others. For around 4 years I ran two youth groups, one on a Tuesday night at a village 40k away from where I lived and another on a Thursday night at a different village around 20k away from my town.
In one we used the school hall and in another, we used the village hall. There was always heaps to do, to prepare for each night, to gather the sports stuff, to raise funds, and to care for the kids. At times there were people who helped and at times I did it on my own. At the closer village, there was sort of two groups, the younger kids, and they would love to make up a play about a contemporary issue and then relate it to a bible story, so while we did sports with the older boys, the younger boys and girls worked on their play together.
When the sports were finished and we all sat down (there would have been 30 young people) the younger group put on their play. It was always awesome. At the other village, we did mostly sports and then a short bible story and prayer. I think my favourite memory was one night when at the end of our activities (and we had been going for over three years at this point) when I was on my own. In the storytime, we had what just felt like a God moment and I asked if anyone wanted to pray and receive Jesus as their saviour. (I did not know we were supposed to do that every week). Ten young people prayed “the sinner’s prayer” that night. It was such a beautiful moment, I won’t ever forget that.
KNOWLEDGE
Most people are looking for a way to profit in life, some for themselves, some so they can help others. We love to increase, to see an increase, and to experience an increase. Maybe it’s a bigger house, more responsibility at work, more time to be with your family, or simply a bigger bank balance. All of these are good in the right context. And that is what the writer is giving us here, context. The best increases we can get in our lives ever are wisdom and understanding [moral purity, holiness, imparted righteousness].
Have you ever lost your remote control? You look in all the usual places, then the unusual places….under the sofa, you take the sofa apart (and find 2 gold coins). You put the sofa back together – still not found the remote. Ten minutes later you take the sofa apart again. It was not there ten minutes ago, but somehow our flawed and desperate (the movie or game has already started) thinking we can convince ourselves it will be there this time. But it’s not. It’s in your jacket pocket where you hid it to stop anyone from changing the channel.
We are like that in life sometimes aren’t we……we look somewhere for happiness and it’s not really there, then we look in the same place again. Surprise!! It’s still not there.
The writer is encouraging us to engage in a meaningful search and therefore a meaningful life. Seeking God, his wisdom, his insights and his leadings. There we find true, tested and trusted wealth.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word “gain” appears twice in this one short scripture. They are both pronounced “sahar” but the second mention has an accent on the first “a” which changes the meaning from “profit from merchandising in the marketplace” to “being a trader”. One gain comes from interaction with many people in many areas, and one gain is from a single-minded pursuit of silver. Webster’s Bible Dictionary has “gain” as a square or bevelled notch cut from a girder that supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam. I think I love this meaning – to gain, is to position yourself in a key place where you can provide ongoing support that makes a difference for others. Love that thought.
WISDOM: what are you currently searching for today?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Focus – As you tune out distractions and set your direction, stay aware of the needs of others.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [there is delightful profit and full support from her [wisdom] that is fully pleasing and pleasant, rather than be a merchant of money. The harvest from her [wisdom] needs the determination to dig it out with diligence.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please help me to have the focus of my heart on your teachings and your ways. Thank you.
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Wisdom does bring gain or profit that is better than silver or gold! A wise man is truly a rich one and God is not just willing, but wanting to make us rich! Wisdom is on offer, we only need ask and He will give it freely and without measure. My search and dig for wisdom is not something heavy or burdensome, it’s simply a prayer asking our Father for it.
Father, my prayer today is give me the wisdom I lack to do all you want, because that is what I want in Jesus name, Amen!
Blessed to receive such inspirational messages on wisdom and to know that we can ask God for wisdom and it will be given to us. JAMES 1:5. Thank you. Be blessed in Jesus’name.
The Message translation says “Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth.” Only when we search after the heart of Jesus can we find “ true, tested and trusted wealth.” Just beautiful. Thank you Pastor Allan! Happy Sunday!
Thank you Pastor Allan for another encouraging word!
This scripture clearly separates the world’s thinking & lack compared to God’s teachings! Godly wisdom can’t be compare to having silver & gold but from a worldly perspective it shows me how precious His wisdom is if we diligently seek it. It is far greater & higher than any worldly gain & profit which so often feeds my flesh. Wisdom can often free me from the entrapments of selfishness greed pride & gain which can take me off course from the ways of God. Having a pure heart to serve Him & His Kingdom automatically brings material gain but that’s only part of what God promises me in being blessed with a deeply fulfilling life & the gift of eternal life so when we put it in its right place our wealth can be of great blessing to serve others & resource God’s kingdom in fulfilling our purpose & destiny.
Seeking God, his wisdom, his insights and his leadings. There we find true, tested and trusted wealth. – beautiful. He is our ultimate source.
What I’m currently searching today is for more of Him.
He has shown me his love and grace through out my life, and I’m extremely grateful for him walking beside me in the toughest seasons.
But now at present I want to spend more time with him,getting to know him.more everyday and letting him lead me along this new journey searching for glimpse of him in everything I do .to be a blessing to people he bring into my life ,so I can share my testimony and Give him all the glory .
Every time I read your words, they really make me sit up and think, what direction am I going in? and sometimes they are not in the right order, which make me reevaluate my path ,and then put them in the right order , so thank you 🙏🏿 for your words pastor Alan
Thank you Ps Allan.
I like the example you gave of looking for a remote control in all the usual place and the unusual places …And sometimes we are like that in life looking for happiness somewhere and not really there again and again ….
I love how the writer encourages us as well to engage in the meaningful life seeking God, His wisdom, His insights and His leading. There we find true, tested and trusted wealth. So good!
Wisdom does bring the riches of heaven to our life ! All that is truly a blessing and blesses comes from a life lived seeking wisdom for All our needs , desires and acts on this earth .
The world see gain so differently. It’s selfish and profits you only. But with wisdom and understanding of who our provider is, to gain, is to position yourself in a key place where you can provide ongoing support that makes a difference for others, is far more satisfying Amen
Great Allan
This message teaches me that seeking and understanding God’s wisdom, and applying this knowledge into our daily lives, brings us wealth that is priceless. And sharing this knowledge with others, helping them make wise choices as their young minds mature, will give us more happiness than any worldly treasures can.