Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
They seem joined together at the hip, inseparable in their expression of worth. In fact, the terms “gold and silver” are used together 171 times in the NIV to comment on value placed, either rightly or wrongly, upon something considered to be of merit. Solomon uses the combination to elevate the importance he places upon understanding: “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” (Proverbs 16:16 NIV)
And for that reason, this brightly-colored neotropic tanager seems inadequately named, for it is simply known as the Silver-throated Tanager. Silver-throated it may be, but what about its brilliant golden plumage? Does it not deserve our equal admiration? Found dangling from limbs in mossy forests from Costa Rica to Ecuador, this jewel deserves proper recognition.
But then again, we humans do have a penchant for underappreciating that which is of true worth. We punch the clock and put in our time, we act as responsible citizens when the King of Heaven reminds us, “’The silver is mine and the gold is mine’, declares the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2:8 NIV) This in no way demeans the value of our efforts; it simply is a reminder of what is primary and what falls far behind as secondary.