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Job 31:24-25
24 If I have made [suwm] gold [zahab] my hope [kecel], or have said ['amar] to the fine gold [kethem], Thou art my confidence [mibtach];
25 If I rejoiced [samach] because my wealth [chayil] was great [rab], and because mine hand [yad] had gotten [matsa'] much [kabbiyr]; KJV-Interlinear
24 'If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, 25 If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had secured so much; NASB
The gold here is the same as the gold mentioned being from Ophir, which is the finest quality, the finest refined gold that anyone can buy, own and possess.
Wealth represents anything of this world, which one can place value on, and enjoy possessing. That can be property of vast wealth, or simply a collection from a hobby or habit.
All things from this world are temporary and intended for our temporary use as well as our education.
In the previous set of verses, Job lists categories of sins arising from social obligations. Being nice to folks, helping folks, not taking advantage of folks, or simply not doing that which you should do for others, and so forth. You do not have to do something in order to commit a sin. Not doing that which is expected can be an even greater sin, than any act.
Now the worldly possessions that can and will exist in ones life, can be the source of many other categories of sins leading to failures in the spiritual life.
Because we are instant gratification creatures, then the senses take on a role in our life, which can serve to separate us from God, rather than teach us the many advantages of having a relationship with God.
Bible doctrine is the spiritual gold which is absorbed into the very fabric of ones existence. Gold ore, or any kind of tangible wealth, is external and will never become a part of ones existence.
Kind of like beauty, or some natural talent, Bible doctrine can become a part of your essence. And while beauty or some talent is tied to your physical body, they too will leave you when you leave this world. Only the soul and its content (as well as your human spirit if you are a believer) go with you into the next life.
Your next life is the greater of the two lives you will live. This one now and the next life in eternity are your two lives.
Pursuing possessions which will last forever, makes more sense than pursuing possessions which will last only for a short time.
And even worse, if you have possessions or beauty or talent, or something of earthly value, and then from that, gloat over what you have, because you believe that somehow you are the one who has caused your good fortune, then this attitude will serve to mislead you into a false sense of success. And that attitude is a sin. A sin of arrogance of phenomenal magnitude.
Job was a man of great wealth. If he lived today he would no doubt be at the top of all of the rich man lists.
But Job states here, that he did not allow his good fortune, he did not allow his wealth, he did not allow his great success and prosperity to interfere with his attitude toward life, toward people, toward self, and especially toward God.
