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1. Pro 3:14 – “For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.”
- For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver
- In the previous verse, Solomon stated that the man that finds wisdom is happy (blessed and fortunate).
- In this verse (Pro 3:14) and the following four (Pro 3:15-18), he gives several reasons why this is so.
- The first reason why the man who finds wisdom is happy is that its merchandise is better than the merchandise of silver.
- Merchandise – The action or business of buying and selling goods or commodities for profit; the exchange of commodities for other commodities or for money.
- Silver has been a highly sought-after metal for millennia because it is rare, valuable, and useful in a variety of applications.
- Its widespread appeal due to its beauty and utility made it a commodity that could be traded for any other commodity, hence the reason it became money, a universal medium of exchange.
- For these reasons, its merchandise surpasses that of most other things on this earth.
- The merchandise, or exchange value, of silver is high, but not as lofty as wisdom.
- The same properties that make silver a preferred commodity likewise make wisdom highly desirable.
- Like silver, wisdom is rare, valuable, beautiful, and useful.
- Wisdom is so rare that when Solomon was looking for a wise man, he lamented the fact that, “one man among a thousand have I found” (Ecc 7:28).
- Wisdom is so valuable that it is said to be “the principal thing” (Pro 4:7).
- Principal – 1. First or highest in rank or importance; that is at the head of all the rest; of the greatest account or value; foremost.
- Wisdom is as beautiful as fine jewelry (Pro 25:12).
- And finally, wisdom is exceedingly useful, for it guides a man through all of life’s decisions, enabling him to choose the best means to the proper ends.
- As Solomon said, it truly is better to get wisdom than silver (Pro 16:16).
- And the gain thereof than fine gold.
- The second reason that the man who finds wisdom is happy is because the gain of wisdom is better than the gain of fine gold.
- Gain – 1. Booty, prey, spoil. Obs. 2. a. Increase of possessions, resources or advantages of any kind, consequent on some action or change of conditions; an instance of this; profit, emolument; opposed to loss.
- Fine gold is gold that is “of superior quality, choice of its kind; free from foreign or extraneous matter, having no dross or other impurity; clear, pure, refined” (OED).
- Fine gold is one of the most precious metals in the world.
- The gain that can be acquired with fine gold is exceedingly high, yet it pales in comparison to the gain that wisdom affords.
- Gold can fill a man’s house with possessions; wisdom gives him the sense to resist doing so (Pro 15:16; Ecc 5:11-12).
- Gold enables a man to travel the world; wisdom teaches him that time spent in the house of God is far more valuable (Psa 27:4; Psa 84:10).
- Gold allows a man to live in pleasures; wisdom teaches him to live in obedience to God (Ecc 12:13).
- Gold makes it possible to eat whatever you want; wisdom teaches moderation (Pro 23:20-21; Php 4:5).
- Gold makes many friends (Pro 19:4); wisdom filters out and excludes most of them (Pro 13:20; 1Co 15:33).
The gain of wisdom is without a doubt far better than that of fine gold, and happy indeed is the man that finds it.