Proverbs - Instruction is Better Than Financial Gain

Proverbs 8:10-11

                                            Receive my instruction, and not silver;

and knowledge rather than choice gold.

 For wisdom is better than rubies;

and all the things that may be desired

are not to be compared to it.

 Here we are given a choice.  We should receive instruction - not silver and knowledge rather than gold.  What does this say to the believer who chooses to earn time-and-a-half on a Sunday that results in not being able to sit under his pastor’s bible teaching?  What does this say to the one who chooses to ignore the gathering together with believers giving his or her employment the consistent priority?  Receiving instruction is of higher value than receiving a paycheck.

                    Another lesson to learn from these verses is that choosing to take on employment which conflicts with wisdom for your family or the wisdom God has shown you for your day to day life,  cheapens the quality of life the Lord would have for you.  A woman may think that her husband taking a second job, or she, herself, committing to that outside source of income will solve their problems but, in fact, could very well be foolish and result in the devastation of their marriage or family.  We do not measure our choices only by their financial success.  We measure our choices by the leading of the Holy Spirit and God’s priorities