[The personification of wisdom says,] "By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity." (Proverbs 8:15-18 NIV)
"When?" and "How?" are two appropriate questions. Anyway, that's the way it appears to me. History records the stories of many wise persons who gain riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity. The historical record also demonstrates that some wise persons gained no riches, received no honor, lived in poverty, and died penniless.
One way of reconciling this conundrum is to spiritualize the latter, that is, to speculate that some wise persons gain spiritual riches, the honor of angels, heaven's treasures, and the prosperity of a life well lived, and further to speculate that some foolish persons gain worldly riches, but not spiritual riches. They garner the honors of humanity, but none from angels. They lay up treasures on earth, but not in heaven. They prosper in the affairs of this world, but have no investment in the next one.
Let those who have ears to hear listen to what the Spirit is saying.
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