6d • Wisdom
Prudence with God’s Gifts
‘There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.’ Proverbs 21:20
Proverbs 21:20 paints a vivid contrast between wisdom and folly by showing how each treats what God provides. Treasure and oil in Scripture often symbolize not only material provision but also stability, foresight, and blessing. The wise recognize every gift—money, time, opportunity, relationships—as something to steward, not squander. Their dwelling is marked by sufficiency because their heart is governed by prudence. This is not a promise of wealth, but a picture of orderliness and gratitude.
This truth echoes throughout Scripture. In Proverbs 10:4, the diligent hand “maketh rich,” not necessarily in luxury, but in reliability and fruit. In contrast, Proverbs 21:17 warns that he who loves pleasure “shall be a poor man,” showing that foolishness is not a lack of resources but a refusal to discipline desires. Jesus teaches the same principle in Luke 16:10–12, where faithfulness in “little” is the measure of readiness to receive “much.” Even Joseph in Genesis 41 embodied wisdom when he stored grain in years of plenty, preserving a nation in years of famine; stewardship is a mark of the wise because they act with the future in view.
Practically, this verse calls us to examine how we handle what God places in our hands. Wisdom sees value where folly sees momentary satisfaction. The wise build margin, cultivate habits that preserve peace, and invest in what strengthens their walk with God and blesses others. The foolish consume without thought, leaving themselves vulnerable and empty. This touches not only money but emotional energy, spiritual disciplines, friendships, and time. Many believers run dry not because God has withheld, but because they have spent everything on lesser things.
Ultimately, Proverbs 21:20 directs us toward a life shaped by self-control, gratitude, and foresight. It invites us to slow down and ask whether our patterns align more with storing treasure or spending it up. It reminds us that wisdom preserves what matters, while folly exhausts it. And it points us back to Christ, in whom “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” calling us to live in a way that reflects the value of what He has given, rather than wasting what was meant to strengthen and sustain us.
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Prudence with God’s Gifts
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