"How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver."
This is completely against the current culture. They value money and wealth as the number one God and good of this land. It distorts everything that is done. Children are left alone to pursue money. Husbands and wives are dealt with treachery to pursue money. Health is abandoned to pursue money. Lying, deceit, and stealing is all done to pursue money. And when it is obtained, it is never enough.
We must understand that there are choices that are foolish choices that will allow one to be richer. These choices are selfish, impulsive, and rebellious choices. A Christian understands that “I must pursue God's glory and the love of my neighbor as well as my own benefit.” The Christian must look for the choice that benefits all, not just self.
If a choice makes you rich but does not benefit others and bring glory to God, then it is a sinful choice and will bring with it consequences you do not want. Too many people work second jobs and third jobs, gamble, run after risky investments – all to "provide" for their family while they don't know their family and do not enjoy them.
The word understanding means insight and connections between seemingly unrelated things. It often carries with it a relational discernment in connotation. One must understand that things are much more connected than we could ever have imagined at first. One move here will affect this and that and this over here and this two months from now like a chess move that affects every move after that. So this proverb is instructing and warning us that the obvious-looking move to go after money is not always the best move. It would be better to weigh the relational damage and benefit before you pursue this course.
Until tomorrow,
Gil Stieglitz