Chase Wisdom, Not Success

Every man is chasing something — success, money, promotions, a bigger house, the next achievement. None of it is wrong. But what if you spent decades mastering how to make a living, and never learned how to build a life?

Host Chris Muiña dives deeper into Proverbs 3 to hold up the one pursuit Solomon calls more valuable than silver, gold, or anything else a man could desire. Money can buy comfort, but it can't buy character. Wealth can open doors, but it can't guarantee good decisions. Success can earn respect, but it can't produce peace. The thing that bridges every one of those gaps is the pursuit most men never prioritize: wisdom.

Wise men aren't born, they're built — one obedient decision at a time. Wisdom isn't reserved for pastors, scholars, or older men; God freely gives it to any man who humbly seeks it. Every day you open His Word, every time you choose His way over your own, every moment you invite Him into your decisions, you're gaining something worth more than anything money can buy. Because real success isn't measured by what you accumulate, it's measured by the wisdom that shapes the man you're becoming.

Verse of the Day: Proverbs 3:13–15 

Your Daily Man-Up Challenge 

Before your next important decision — big or small — pause and ask not what's easiest, fastest, or most profitable, but what's wisest. Then spend at least ten minutes in God's Word before you reach for your phone or the TV, and ask Him for wisdom in one specific area where you need direction.

NEW TO THE MEN’S MORNING DEVOTIONAL? 

Welcome!

The Men's Morning Devotional is a podcast to help you man up in every way - in your faith, your family and your work - by spending a few minutes getting into the Word before you face the world. 

Every weekday, you'll get a challenge and encouragement from Scripture that speaks to the pressures you carry as a husband, a father, and a leader. You’ll get truth you can take straight into your day. And you’ll know you’re not standing alone, because men everywhere are waking up to fight the same battle.

Your hosts are Steve Alessi, pastor of Metro Life Church of Miami, FL, along with his sons and other leaders of our Goodfellas men's ministry.

Join us every weekday to man up! 

MORE PODCASTS YOU'LL ENJOY

Find more podcasts about faith and family from Metro Life Studios, including:

My Morning Devotional

The Family Business with The Alessis

The Mary and Martha Show 

You can listen to all of these shows on our Metro Life Studios app here! 

Get The Metro Life Studios app 

Transcript

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SPEAKER_00 0:01

Gentlemen, every day is a battle. A battle for your faith, your family, and your purpose. The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives. They prepare before it begins. Welcome to the Men's Morning Devotional. Let's get into God's word. It's time to man up.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

Good morning, gentlemen. I'm Chris Muina, and it's time for another man up moment, with today's devotional being about chasing wisdom, not just success. I'm going to be focusing on Proverbs chapter 3, verses 13 through 15, and it says, Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than the gain from silver, and her profit is better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Every man is chasing something. Some chase success, others chase money, promotions, bigger houses, nicer cars, recognition, or the next achievement. None of these things are inherently wrong, as Solomon knows all too well, but Solomon makes a bold statement in today's passage, and he says there's something worth pursuing that is far more valuable than all of it. Wisdom. Notice that Solomon doesn't say wisdom is equal to silver or gold. He says it's better. Why is that? Because money can buy comfort, but it can't buy character. Wealth can open doors, but it can't guarantee good decisions. Success can earn respect, but it can't produce peace. Wisdom is what helps a man know what to do when life gets complicated. A wise man knows when to speak and when to stay silent. A wise husband chooses humility over having the last word. A wise father understands that his greatest investment isn't in his career, but in the lives of his children. A wise leader makes decisions based on God's truth, not just what is popular or profitable. Many men spend decades learning how to make a living, but never learn how to build a life. The difference is wisdom. The world celebrates intelligence, talent, and ambition. And don't get me wrong, these are good things. But God puts a value on wisdom because wisdom begins with fearing the Lord and submitting our lives to Him. It is applying God's truth to everyday decisions. Think about the men you admire most. Chances are it isn't because they've accumulated the most possessions. It's because they live with integrity. They were dependable, they made wise decisions, they left a legacy that pointed to others to Christ. Those men didn't become wise overnight. Wisdom is developed through a lifetime of seeking God, studying His Word, listening to godly counsel, learning from mistakes, and choosing obedience over convenience. Here's the encouraging part. Wisdom isn't reserved for pastors, scholars, or older men. God freely gives wisdom to any man who humbly seeks it. Every day you open God's Word, every time you choose His way over your own, every moment you invite Him into your decisions, you're gaining something more valuable than anything money can buy. Because real success isn't measured by what you accumulate, it's measured by the wisdom that shapes the man you're becoming. So here's your man up challenge. Today, before making an important decision, big or small, pause and ask, what would be the wise thing to do? Not the easiest, not the fastest thing, not the most profitable thing, the wisest. Then spend at least ten minutes reading God's word before scrolling your phone or turning on the television and ask God to give you wisdom for one specific area in your life where you need direction. Remember, wise men aren't born, they're built. One obedient decision at a time. So let's pray. Father, thank you for showing us that wisdom is more valuable than wealth, success, or anything this world offers. Help us to seek your wisdom above everything else. Teach us to make decisions that honor you, to lead our families with humility, and to live lives marked by integrity and discernment. Give us ears to hear your voice, hearts that are willing to obey, and the courage to choose what is right even when it is difficult. Build us into men who leave behind the legacy of godly wisdom for those who follow us. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 4:42

All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word. Now go live it. Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do. Share this devotional with another brother. Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.