Original objects of art seem to be of grand importance, especially to the ultra rich. They are testaments to the type of lifestyle that shouts of wealth, affluence, and opulence. And they are imitated all over the world. In 1978 at Sotheby’s in London, the greatest sum ever paid for art objects at one auction on one day totaled $11.8 million.
Sure these material objects can be passed down as an investment in a person’s will, but one thing is sure: no one can take it with them when they die. Nor can we take any object with us at the time of death. Yes, it’s true, people have been buried with certain items, but they will no doubt stay in the ground.
The Older I Get
Much, much more valuable to us during our lifetimes is attaining wisdom. Wisdom is not only knowledge that we gain through education, but it is a sum total of all of our life experiences and natural abilities. In other words, even if one does not have the opportunity to go to college, wisdom is accumulated whether we know it or not.
Someone once said, “It is amazing how smart my parents get, the older I get.” Wisdom has a lot to do with this humorous statement and it’s true for both parties. We just keep gaining more and more wisdom as we age.
The best thing about wisdom is no one can take it away. It becomes a part of us when we use good judgement, along with common sense, to grow understanding about all things. We find the truth, discern the truth, and declare the truth to others. Along with wisdom, we use insight and our God-given gifts to create the right attitudes and beliefs.
We can feel good, really good, that in literature as well as the Bible, Wisdom is portrayed as a woman--the one who instructs. Could this be the reason why in our public schools 76% of teachers are women? Well, that fact may not have anything to do with teacher gender, but it would do us well to think of the value of wisdom in our lives.
Where’s the Price Tag?
How would we put a “price tag” on wisdom? Or could we? We know that wisdom is a quality that bolsters human nature and our relationships. Many “wise” people earn a lot of money in their professions, when they invest in stocks, or when they earn an inheritance, for example. Money, however, can be lost when people suffer layoffs, illnesses, or disasters. But they can still use their wisdom.
It takes a lot of hard work to make all types of relationships work, too. It requires extending a hand to help the other, in forgiveness, and in selfless acts of kindness. And still, it may end in irreconcilable differences on the home front, in the office, and in our neighborhoods. But they can still use their wisdom.
In all life’s circumstances, we can use our wisdom to make things better, if not now, than the next time. There really is nothing worth more than having wisdom. Without it, we have nothing else to fall back on, no foundation for goodness to grow, nowhere for truth to live. We can hold onto it, add to it, and take it with us wherever we go.
Our Gift
God knew from the beginning that we would need wisdom every single day. He offers this priceless gift to us for the taking. It’s already inside of us. All we need to do is ask Him daily to “turn the faucet on” so it will flow into us through His Holy Spirit. No need to bring your credit card!
Wisdom is more precious than rubies. Nothing you could want is equal to it. Proverbs 8:11 (NCV)
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