Proverbs 8:21 (ESV)
granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
Proverbs 8:21 (NASBStr)
To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
We don't really relate wealth and treasures to the benefits of following God and seeking His wisdom. It sounds too temporal, shallow and earthly. After all Jesus said, "seek first the kingdom of God" in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Paul warned us that the root of all evil is the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10). He was warning young pastor Timothy in that verse. He didn't want the young man to pursue money rather than the teaching and wisdom of God found in Christ. So, when we read the above proverb we ought to have a bit of recoil in our hearts. We could spiritualise this verse and say that Solomon is talking about spiritual wealth and spiritual treasures. However, that would be to forget that once Solomon made the decision to seek wisdom rather than wealth, God gave him the wisdom AND the wealth. God is not opposed to earthly treasures. He makes the rich, rich. Note this proverb:
Proverbs 10:22
It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it.
When God makes us rich He also keeps us from the thorns and the briars that often accompany money. What God is telling is in Proverbs 8:21 is that when we seek wisdom we make great decisions and those decision will result in God's material blessing for us. Look at Joseph in Pharaoh's court. God blessed Pharaoh AND Joseph. Look at Daniel in Nebuchadnezzar's court. He blessed Nebuchadnezzar AND Daniel. Look at Mordecai and Esther in King Ahasuerus' court. God blessed King Ahauerus with Mordicai and Esther. Seeking God's wisdom puts you in the place to be blessed. Seeking riches without God's wisdom leads to pain and sorrow. When we seek God's wisdom God can and often does bless us with material goods. He clothes the lily of the field, doesn't He? Look at how beautiful He made them.
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