The Jewelry Proverbs Recommends

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Jewels are both investment and adornment. As portable wealth, they are hard to beat. Set in beautiful designs, jewels not only increase in value but beautify their wearer. Yet, there are beauties of value that eclipse silver, gold, rubies, or diamonds. Imagine jewelry unstealable, indestructible, portable, and supremely valuable; jewelry that beautifies the wearer, regardless of skin-tone, wealth, or natural beauty. You’ve just imagined what Proverbs offers.
Proverbs 3:13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. 14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her.  
Proverbs 8:11 "For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

Proverbs 20:15 There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.[1] 
Job concurs.
Job 28:18 "Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; And the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls.[2] 
When your daughter longs to be beautiful, she longs for something God desires for her. When she thinks of jewelry as a beauty enhancer, she’s confusing the image for the reality.

God has jewels for the beautification of his daughters. They are free, and they are costly. The luster of wisdom, the shine of a gentle and quiet spirit, the sparkle of understanding kindness … these outshine the cold, hard glitter of material jewelry as the sun outshines a candle.
1 Peter 3:4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 
A heart inclined to true beauty and eternal value chooses imperishable beauty over perishable. Sisters, have you invested in acquiring God’s jewels? Are you adorned with wisdom, understanding, lips of knowledge, and a gentle and quiet spirit?



[1] KJV/ESV/NET: a precious jewel; CSB: rare treasure.
[2] KJV/NIV: rubies; ESV/NASB/CSB/NET: pearls; LEB: red corals.

Comments

Fred Moore said…
So well said, unfortunately the gentle voice of wisdom is not as clamorous as the voice of price and vanity.
10:51 AM
Thomas R. said…
Dr. Phil, I like the correlation you made jere and the supporting verses because I too believe that inner character and beauty through integrity and wisdom are both from more important than physical jewelryou. I'm wondering though as I've read many places of God's blessings coming in form of material things, what is the balance if there is any and what would be the purpose of their creation? These are questions I believe I have formed my opinion about but would like to hear your thoughts on jewelry being a prohibition or caution because of its ability to lose its owner in materialism like many other things in life i.e. land, money, family, and other such obtainable things.
12:15 PM
Thomas R. said…
Pardon the misspellings and grammar, I typed it on my phone.
12:15 PM
PhilipBrown said…
Good questions, Tom. I don't have a fully formed answer as to why God created material gems, viz., their role in his Creation plan or their role in the New Creation. My starting point would be to notice God's use of them for beauty, for symbols of value - tribal names inscribed on jewels suggesting God's value of his people, etc. Regarding current prohibition, I have argued that the contexts of 1 Pet. 3 and 1 Tim. 2 indicate God desires a focus on adorning oneself with internal beauty in the New covenant.
4:04 PM
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