Can you imagine someone offering you this choice: two uninterrupted hours with your Bible or a handful of jewels? Which would you choose?
For a very long time, the pursuit of wealth dominated my life. I wasn’t really striving for jewels, or fancy cars, or even a house in Scottsdale, but rather for financial security. I was on my own and ignoring God.
I believed that you had to work hard enough and long enough to make sure that you were going to be able to pay your bills and go on vacation. I didn’t want a lot of fancy stuff, but I sure wanted to know that I had enough money in my bank account to pay bills without worrying every month.
Until…April 25, 2008. When Austin died, I realized that being able to pay my bills wasn’t nearly as important as I thought. Then, I realized who Jesus is and what the Bible is all about. I started to devour the Bible like it could pay my bills!
Since today is April 8, I was reading Proverbs 8 (there are 31 Proverbs so you can read one each day of the month) and was reminded how important seeking wisdom is to God. Check out Proverbs 8. Two of my favorite verses in Proverbs 8 are:
“Take my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choicest gold. For wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things cannot compare with her.” ~Proverbs 8:10-11
God would rather have you sit at His feet and learn from Him than to seek after gold, jewels, or wealth. Wisdom and understanding should be what drives us.
Proverbs 8 tells us that no desirable thing can compare to wisdom. To those who seek wisdom God promises: knowledge, understanding, power, riches, honor, enduring wealth, righteousness, blessings, life and favor from the Lord.
Holy Cow! Why don’t I spend hours in my Bible each day when He promises all of that in response to my seeking His wisdom?
There are enough excuses to fill the internet for why we don’t have time to read our Bibles, so let’s move on to HOW we COULD make more time for our Bible.
3 Ideas to Choose Wisdom over Wealth:
- So simple, yet so hard: get up earlier. Ugh. I know. I am NOT a morning person, but I make the coffee the night before and try to get up before my family.
- Listen to an audio Bible while you exercise. Two birds, one stone!
- Sign up for email devotionals. You can get quality devotionals directly on your phone that will quote at least some verses from the Bible. Hey, it’s a start!
If someone offered you the choice, would you choose 2 hours with your Bible or the jewels?
How do you carve out time to spend reading your Bible?
This one really hit home! Thanks for the eye opening! May you be blessed on this day!
I know you are crazy busy, but a few minutes a day even is worth it! Thanks for being a great sister!
Kim, sooo good! As a stay at home mom I work for no money ha. I work knowing my reward is my kids loving God and their futures. But that too could be riches I strive for. I have to get up super early before my family to seek God, read His word and pray. Otherwise, my day is striving for what I want and not what He wants. Thank you for the reminder.
Best job in the world! Keep setting that alarm, girl. Super huge rewards and blessings are flowing because you are choosing God first. Way to go!
What a joy to read your words on choosing wisdom or wealth first thing this morning! Such a good reminder to “seek The Lord above all else”!! I have always set the alarm to rise before my family & now before my husband since no kids in the home!!! A cup of coffee & God’s word is the best way to start the day!! You are dearly loved & missed!!
You are one of my most precious and influential examples! Thanks for being you!
So I read you first question and considered in honestly. If I am being honest and sharing honestly, my immediate response was “jewels”. For some reason the idea of 2 hours with my bible wasn’t as influential as saying “2 hours face to face with God” (which I would easily choose over most anything).
Since answering this question, I have done nothing but analyze why I feel that way and what that says about my walk with God.
Thank you for presenting a great opportunity for me to do some soul searching.
Really love this!
Ooohhh, great perspective on this Rachel! And I love your honesty. If we just think of the Bible as a book, we could pick it up any time, so why not grab those jewels and run? But, this side of Heaven, our Bibles and prayer, along with the Holy Spirit, ARE our face to face conversations with God.
Would anyone else change their answer if the question was “would you choose God or wealth?”
wisdom is better than Wealth because when you wisdom you can have intelligence to what is good and bad and also when you have wisdom you then which work is better the good one or the bad one