The mistake many make from this verse is in thinking that we should pursue earthly goods so that we can pass it on to our children… What we should be pursuing is wisdom, and how to pass that wisdom on to our children. Proverbs 16:16 “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver”.  When we pass wisdom on to our children, they become wise, and our children’s children will also have a better chance of becoming wise.

The wealth of a sinner is not so much in his material wealth of gold and silver as it is in the wisdom he should have gained from his folly.  The righteous see the folly of sinners and are instructed by them, hence they become wiser still. Therefore the “wealth of the sinner (learning from folly) is stored up for the righteous (to make them wiser)”.