12 because wisdom is protection as silver is protection;
but the advantage of knowledge
is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner. (Ecclesiastes 7:12 CSB)

I think it pretty much goes without saying we can agree with our scripture that wisdom preserves the life of its owner. Without gaining and displaying some level of wisdom we are not going to get very far in this world.

The problem is that we get the protection of wisdom mixed up with the protection of wealth. One is fleeting, the other is not. Wisdom provides something of value throughout our lives and well beyond.

Additionally, we also want to consider wisdom something that is equated with a career. It becomes only about how we leverage what we have learned in school or what provides for us. It is true, there is much value in wisdom providing us gainful employment. However, wisdom is so much more.

This is especially true when it comes to wisdom gained through scripture. We learn how to truly live when we gain wisdom through scripture. There is so much practical knowledge contained in scripture and there is business knowledge as well. But more than anything, there is the knowledge of Christ and what God expects from us in this life. This wisdom preserves us even into eternity.

The true power of wisdom is that it moves us beyond survival and promotes us into a life lived with purpose and meaning. It takes us from the basal nature of provision, beyond success and into a life of meaningfulness.