Better to Have Wisdom Than Gold

Dishonesty and injustice often cause great leaders to topple in shame. Think of what happened a few years ago to Richard Nixon, President of the United States. It was because he tolerated evil thoughts and tried to cover up for the bad deeds of others that he was forced out of of … More

Honesty

Rulers should hate wrongdoing and value honesty (v. 12). They should value honesty not only in themselves but in others also. Right and just lips are the delight of a king, and he loves those who speaks what is right (v. 13). If someone angers a king he runs the risk of being put to death and only wisdom can appease his anger (v. 14). We find here a contrast between the king’s friendly countenance and the countenance of wrath (v.15). The look of friendliness is compared with the cloud of the latter rain. The latter rain came at the end of the growing season and at just the right time to mature the crops. A happy king was to the people like the latter rain. His countenance was important to the nation. Unless he had a friendly countenance the nation would wither and die or at best lead a stunted existence. The same is true with leadership today.

Wisdom is more desirable than gold, and understanding than silver (v. 16). The person who has wisdom and understanding has the best of this world and the world to come. Therefore he should guard himself from desires and appetites that lead him into sin (v. 17). The highway of the upright is plainly marked. That which does not begin with the fear of the Lord and steer clear of the highway of iniquity is nothing but Satan’s counterfeit. It is easy to be deceived by a counterfeit. It could be soap operas and some people even let sports become their God.

Application

I want honesty to be a character trait that is evident in my life. It is so easy to have blind spots and not be truthful and honest in every area of my life.

Proverbs 16:12-17 (English Standard Version)


Warning: MagpieRSS: Failed to parse RSS file. (Space required at line 39, column 24) in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/magpie6-1/rss_fetch.inc on line 230

Warning: array_slice() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/rss/esvLookup.php on line 15

View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »

More Proverbs commentaries

Proverbs 13:1-5
Our Speech Should be Uplifting

Proverbs 13:6-13
Pride Causes Us to Be Contentious

Proverbs 13:11-15
Following Instruction Will Spare You Sorrow

Proverbs 13:14-20
Friends Will Take You Up or Down

Proverbs 13:21-25
When Genuine Love is Questionable

Proverbs 14:1-5
No Work Means No Harvest

Proverbs 14:6-12
Fools Think Their Ways Are Right

Proverbs 14:13-17
Failing to Live by The Truth of God’s Word

Proverbs 14:18-23
It’s Important to Listen to Instruction

Proverbs 14:24-29
A Bad Temper is a Sign of Weakness

Proverbs 14:30-35
Emotions Effect Our Physical Conditon

Proverbs 15:1-5
Choose Gentle Words

Proverbs 15:6-11
Refusal to Take Correction Brings Discipline

Proverbs 15:12-15
We Feed What Our Heart Craves

Proverbs 15:16-22
Love is More Important Than Riches

Proverbs 15:23-27
Wise Leaders Always Seek Advice

Proverbs 15:28-33
The Righteous Weighs His Words Carefully

Proverbs 16:1-11
God’s Sovereignty in Shaping the World

Proverbs 16:5-11
Making Enemies to Be at Peace

Proverbs 16:12-17
Better to Have Wisdom Than Gold

Proverbs 16:18-22
Pride Goes Before Destruction

Proverbs 16:23-26
The Way That Seems Right to Man

Proverbs 16:27-33
A Whisperer Separates Friends

Proverbs 17:1-4
The Lord Tests the Hearts

Proverbs 17:5-9
Children Need to Revere Their Parents

Proverbs 17:10-14
Evil Men Seek Rebellion

Proverbs 17:15-19
A Friend Loves at All Times

Proverbs 17:20-28
A Merry Heart Is Like Medicine

Proverbs 18:1-5
With Dishonor Comes Reproach

Proverbs 18:6-12
A Fool’s Mouth Brings Destruction

Proverbs 18:13-24
A Friend that sticks closer than a Brother

Proverbs 19:1-9
Wealth Makes Many Friends

Proverbs 19:10-19
Chasten Your Son While There is Hope

Proverbs 19:20-29
Judgments Are Prepared For Scoffers