{"id":14489,"date":"2026-08-25T06:30:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T10:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?post_type=oyb&#038;p=14489"},"modified":"2026-08-25T06:30:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T10:30:50","slug":"choose-what-money-cant-buy","status":"publish","type":"oyb","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/oyb\/choose-what-money-cant-buy","title":{"rendered":"CHOOSE WHAT MONEY CAN\u2019T BUY"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold\u201d (Proverbs 22:1 ESV).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solomon taught his readers that some things were worth far more than wealth. A \u201cgood name\u201d meant more than being well known. It described a reputation that grew out of wisdom, integrity, faithfulness, and gracious character. Solomon was not encouraging them to manage appearances or seek popularity. He saw a good name as the outward expression of a person\u2019s inner wisdom and character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His words, \u201cis to be chosen,\u201d made the proverb a matter of values and priorities. Solomon placed two treasures before his readers. If they had to choose between protecting their integrity and increasing their wealth, they were to choose character. Proverbs did not condemn riches, but it clearly taught that some things were more valuable than silver and gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The word translated \u201cfavor\u201d carried the idea of grace. It paralleled the \u201cgood name\u201d and pointed to the esteem and trust that faithful character could produce. Yet Solomon was not promising universal approval. The godly could still be misunderstood or slandered. The issue was not acceptance, but living a life worthy of trust and respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are constantly making choices about what we value most. Money can buy many things, but it cannot buy integrity, trust, or a faithful reputation. A good name takes years to build, but only moments to lose, and no amount of money can buy it back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet our highest concern is not merely protecting our own name. We belong to Jesus. His is the Name we want our lives to honor. He is our wisdom, and His character is what we want increasingly formed in us. When gain and godliness compete, let us choose faithfulness to Christ. The richest life is not the one that leaves the largest estate, but the one that leaves behind a testimony of faithfulness to Jesus. Let us choose what money can\u2019t buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PRAYER<\/strong>: Dear Father, teach us to value what You value. Form the character of Christ in us so that our lives are marked by wisdom, integrity, faithfulness, and love. Help us choose obedience over gain and Your approval over worldly success. May our lives honor the name of Jesus above every other treasure. In Jesus\u2019 name, amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cA good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold\u201d (Proverbs 22:1 ESV). Solomon taught his readers that some things were worth far more than wealth. A \u201cgood name\u201d meant more than being well known. It described a reputation that grew out of wisdom, integrity, faithfulness, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"audio":"https:\/\/garycombsorg.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aug-25-2026-at-6_25_26AM-esv2-50p-bg-10p-music-10p.mp3"},"categories":[],"tags":[],"scripture-book":[1287],"scripture-chapter":[1355],"oyb_day":[1764],"class_list":["post-14489","oyb","type-oyb","status-publish","hentry","scripture-book-proverbs","scripture-chapter-1355","oyb_day-august-25"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb\/14489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oyb"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14489"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-book?post=14489"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-chapter?post=14489"},{"taxonomy":"oyb_day","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb_day?post=14489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}