The Best Investment in Any Economy - Proverbs 16:16

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. Proverbs 16:16

In times like these it is difficult to know how to invest so as to have the greatest yield on your savings.  Often you hear that one of the safer bets is to invest your money in precious metals - specifically gold or silver.  Today's proverb lets us know of a wiser investment than even these two precious metals.  And unlike silver and gold, this investment will last beyond the grave.

How much better is how this proverb begins.  God is telling us that getting wisdom will make us happy.  We will be pleased with what we wind up with when wisdom is our goal.  We will find wisdom acceptable, valuable, and very much worth any time we spend getting it.  Seeing the world as God sees it (which is the basic concept behind wisdom) will be such a blessing to us.  What makes wisdom even better is when we also get "understanding."  Understanding is the ability to take the wisdom that we have and apply it to life effectively.  This is to be chosen above silver. 

So many are concerned about having something when they retire - but the greater concern should be taking something beyond the grave.  There is not a type of human currency that we can take with us past death.  Considering that even the streets in heaven are paved with gold so pure that it is transparent, we see that what is highly valued on earth is basically pavement in heaven.  But wisdom is a blessing now - and in the future.  Wisdom blesses us now and is rewarded in heaven as well.  So it truly is better - much better - to get wisdom and understanding than even the most valuable precious metals on earth.  That is good to remember as the things of this world continue to devalue and become harder to maintain.  Wisdom and understanding is available to everyone at all times.  God will grant it free with only the investment being us giving ourselves to read, study, and think.  Whereas even gold and silver can devalue - wisdom will hold its value today - and will continue to gain value throughout eternity.