The Multiply Initiative Proverbs 10:15 Monday, March 10 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. Verse 15 is one of those proverbs that really makes you stop and think. On the one hand, it is so obvious that it hardly needs to be expressed. On the other hand, it seems to come from a worldly perspective and to lack any spiritual application. I believe the key to unlocking this proverb is to interpret it in light of the rest of Scriptures teaching on wealth and poverty. When I do so it becomes clear to me that Proverbs 10:15 is certainly not giving instruction to the rich and poor about how to live. Rather it is a proverb of lament. Solomon has observed the rich trusting in their riches and the poor being trampled upon and he is remarking here on what he has seen. What are we to take away from such a proverb? 1. Both great wealth and great poverty present us with an increased temptation to sin. Therefore we ought to desire neither. Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord ?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8, 9 ESV) 2. The poor man who fears The Lord is far better off than the rich man who trusts in his wealth. Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. (Proverbs 19:1 ESV) Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. (Proverbs 28:6 ESV) 3. The strong city of wealth is like the wall of Jericho. The Lord can make it crumble whenever he pleases. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 18:10-12 ESV) 4. Money makes everything easier but it is powerless to save. For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it. (Ecclesiastes 7:12 ESV) Finally, the riches and poverty of this world are like a an elaborate system of distraction. There is such a thing as lasting riches. There is a treasure that never runs out, a fountain that never runs dry and a banquet that never goes stale. All the riches in the world cannot buy this pearl. There are no fortunes worthy of being traded for a drink of this water or a spot at this banqueting table. Although it determines so much in the hear and now, our bank account will mean nothing in the everlasting ages to come. Even if you could take your treasures with you to the afterlife, what value do you think they would have in a city whose streets are gold, gates are pearls and whose very foundations are carved from precious stones? Dont be so foolish as to let the world determine what is and is not valuable to you. The price of gold changes on a daily basis, do not concern yourself over something so unstable. Set your hopes and dreams on the one thing whose great worth is intrinsic and therefore unshakable. There is only one way to make your assets depression proof, invest in the one who never changes nor turns.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 14:01:48 +0000
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