17. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18. Riches and honor are with me, yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment.
21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
In Proverbs 8, King Solomon personifies the origins, values, and blessings of wisdom. He starts by asking two thought provoking questions, “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?”
In the proverb, Wisdom expresses her love for those that love her and for those that seek her early. The Hebrew word Shachar (shaw-khar) translated “early” means to dawn, early at any task, or to search for. Its use in the Hebrew Bible demonstrates the transition from night to the dawn of a new day. So we see Wisdom is encouraging God’s children to seek her at the beginning of their day.
When Wisdom speaks of “durable riches”, she is not speaking of material riches that fade with time. She is speaking of spiritual riches that are righteous: kindness, patience, love, and of course truth. These riches carry holy value; the kind Jesus taught us to store “where moths do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19).
While we all desire to have material things of value, focusing on the durable riches of wisdom brings earthly prosperity to the believer whose heart is set on making wise decisions. “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Wise choices bring forth fruits that are better than gold and silver. While wisdom can lead to material prosperity, what it offers is of more value: a life shaped by godly character and a heart filled with integrity.
Application
When we pray for wisdom at the start of a new day, we are asking God to provide us with spiritual foresight in all of our thoughts, decisions, and actions. Making it less likely that we will fall into deception or make choices that we come to regret, and more likely that we will be lead in righteousness by the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Father God in heaven, I pray that you provide me with wisdom today and every day. Let all of my thoughts, decisions, and actions be shaped by Your righteous and Holy wisdom, so that it may go well with me, and I bear the fruits of wisdom. Bless me with durable riches of godly character and integrity, not merely material things. Shape the desires of my heart with spiritual substance that sustains the test of time. Amen.