Long life, Riches and Honor
Proverbs 3:13–16 (NIV)
13. “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
14. for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
15. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
16. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.”
The author of Proverbs was King Solomon. He wrote a lot of things about wisdom, because that was what he asked for from the Lord more than anything else. Since he was a king, when he was writing about wisdom, he analogized it to a queen. In the original language “wisdom” uses the word “her” which refers to a woman. Among all the wives and concubines that he had, only one became his queen, just like when King Xerxes chose Esther as his queen.
The Bible describes the “queen” or you may call it wisdom, in this verse: “long life in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honor.” It is also explained in Solomon’s analogy, if a man gets this queen then “She will be more profitable than silver and yield better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.”
In order to gain “long life, riches and honor” we need wisdom, and in order to gain wisdom, we need the fear of the Lord. What is “the fear of the Lord?” Do we have to tremble whenever we go to church?
Proverbs 8:13 (NIV): “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”
Proverbs 10:27(NIV): “The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.”
Proverbs 14:26 (NIV): “Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.”
The fear of the Lord will bring wisdom. Wisdom is the understanding and comprehension which come from the Lord in the midst of everything we are facing. It results in actions or decisions which are in line with God’s desires.
LONG LIFE
Joshua 14:6–15
In terms of age, Caleb had grown pretty old, he was already 85 year old. Yet in verse 11, it is said that “I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.”
Caleb was not talking about physical strength. Surely there is a great difference between a 40-year-old and an 85-year-old man, in terms of physical strength, endurance and brain memory. Caleb was actually talking about his determination in holding on to God’s promises and his relentless passion in facing many challenges, that they were still the same then as when he was 45. He faithfully followed the God of Israel throughout his sunset years.
Length of days is not only talking about increasing age, weakening of the body, greying hair, stricter diet, etc. When we are in our 20s, we can probably eat anything delicious, cheap, and in large portions. Yet when we enter our 40s, we start to have a healthy diet, eat more fruits and vegetables, and exercise. It is not about all of that. Long life is not just talking about increasing age and physical changes. 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV) said, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
Long life enables us to see all the goodness that God has given throughout the years that we have been through. That is what grows our faith to be more mature, especially in terms of knowing the righteousness in His words. We are what we are today only because of His grace.
RICHES
In this context, riches does not only talk about worldly wealth, but also about eternal treasure. Proverbs 22:1 (NIV) said, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
There is a local quote saying, “Elephants die leaving their tusks, tigers die leaving their prints, people die leaving their good reputation.”
Some of you might have heard about a man named William Soeryadjaya, the founder of Astra International company in Indonesia. I once read about his autobiography on the internet. At the end of December 1992 he sold his company to several Indonesian conglomerates. Why? Because at that time his son, Edward Soeryadjaya, who was the leader of a bank, was in a big debt that had not been paid. In order to pay this debt, Mr. William Soeryadjaya gave up his company. He said, “We will not abandon any parties.” In the end, Astra International fell into others’ hand, but the self worth and family dignity of Soeryadjaya family remained. Although Mr. Soeryadjaya had not been with Astra International anymore for 20 years, and passed away on 2nd April 2010 at the age of 86, Astra Management and its employees have never forgotten this very kind businessman. As a tribute, a large room in the corporate headquarters was named “William Soeryadjaya room.”
“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” If you are a husband, or if you are a wife, how would you like to be remembered as one? If you are a father or a mother, how would you like to be remembered as a parent? If you are a leader, whether in a company or a church organization, how would you like to be remembered as a leader? It all depends on your decision today.
Everyone may have their own bleak or even dark past. If you want to change yours, you can start it now. It will become your riches in the future.
HONOR
Proverbs 3:35 (NIV): “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.”
Proverbs 17:6 (NIV): “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.”
What does it mean? Children can be respected by the community because of their parents are respected people. On the other hand, grandparents or parents can be disgraced or discredited because of the bad deeds of their children and grandchildren.
The honor of our families today can be the impact of the generations before us, and the quality of our families today will impact the future generations. So, if we want to be an honorable person today, it is not too late. Because the honor that we build today will be the honor of our children and grandchildren in the future.
It is an honor for us today that God has chosen us to be His children, an honor for us as well if we are still able to serve Him. When servicing the Lord, maybe you cannot sing, maybe you cannot play music, or maybe you are technologically challenged or impaired, but at least you can smile. Who knows, if there is someone with heavy burden meeting you, and you greet them with your smile, it can bless them, it can affect them positively like a fresh morning dew in the desert.
Conclusion
Wealthiness cannot buy a long life, true riches, and honor. No precious jewels or earthly treasures are worthy to be compared with true wisdom. This wisdom is in the Lord Jesus Christ and His salvation, sought and obtained by faith and prayer.
Amen.
Written by Lenny Sifera Neman, A.Md
(This article is based on the sermon given by the writer on the GPPS Sungai Sukacita church birthday service in February 2020)
