11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. 12Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of it possessor.
I don’t know about you, but I read these words and thought, “But sometimes you just need some money!” But there is a very deep message here. Wisdom bridges the gap between this life, those who see the sun, and heaven. Money may be a temporary shelter from life’s difficulties, but it does not solve any issues beyond this world. Remember, the writer is on a journey of discovery. He is showing us that everything that might be of value in this world is not worthy of our ultimate pursuit. Everything here falls short of full and lasting satisfaction. We might be rich, but wealth is limited. It dies with us. Someone else gets it after we are gone. But wisdom sets us up for heaven. Wisdom places us in right relationship with God, and therefore secures grace for eternity. But this is not to say that wisdom has no value here in this life, that it is only good for eternity. On the contrary, wisdom sets us up for success here, success as defined by God. The wise wealthy person is going to be a person of generosity, not of stinginess and selfishness. The wise person realizes that what they have is because of grace, and not because they deserve it. It is not theirs to keep, but theirs to steward. They are responsible and must give an account for their stewardship. Like the executives of the solar company that has been in the news, we must all give an account. The Fifth Amendment will not be invoked before the Lord. So if you have a choice, go for wisdom!
The Arnold Journey 