Proverbs 8: More Precious Than Gold

I grew up in Africa where street preachers were regular fixtures at the marketplace. I largely ignored their message; my destination was far too important.

Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling?
Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice?
She’s taken her stand at First and Main,
at the busiest intersection.
…
For wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth;
nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her (Proverbs 1–11)

While reading Proverbs 8, I was overcome by a vision of me walking past Lady Wisdom as she raised her voice offering valuable life-altering insight. As I pondered her words, I wondered, “Why would anyone ignore such powerful truths?”

¹³ To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Today, the streets might as well be empty. We are a narcissistic generation, too self-absorbed to listen to Madame Insight. Her simple yet sobering message is unpopular: it challenges the fundamentals of capitalism; it forces us to think about the well-being of others and our nation as a whole.

Society is too busy chasing after gold, fame, and riches to recognize where true value lies—get knowledge, get understanding. Proverbs 8 is a strong reminder that wisdom existed before the material world was formed. Shouldn’t it therefore be more valuable than gold? After all, brilliant ideas and discoveries flow from a fertile mind and spirit!