Gold Not Paper

(Proverbs 8:18 KJV)  Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

It would be easy to stop at the first part of this verse and miss the point.  The flashy aspect of money and fame are what catch the eye.  They are easy to measure and heady to achieve.  But if you do not get the depth added by the second part, you lose.

The first measure of “riches” (6239) means financial accumulation.  The second reference of “wealth” (1952) has more the idea of substance or depth.  In the same way “righteousness” (6666) has a moral component that is missing with simple “honor” (3519b).  The Christian life is built on depth not height.  It is on substance not show.  It is the difference between a twenty dollar gold piece and a twenty dollar bill.

So?  Don’t be impressed by the smoke and mirrors defining so much of life.  Go for the upright life of righteousness not just the label of honor.