Through the Proverbs

Old Testament

Rich Or Poor, All Need to Trust in the Lord Alone - (Proverbs 10:13-16)

Daily Wisdom

Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding. Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty. The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.

Reading Notes
We are called to place our trust in God, and those who do so stand firmly on the foundation of God's grace alone. Moreover, we receive wisdom from the guidance of the Holy Spirit, along with the study of God's Word. These passages contrast, those who place their trust in God and those who do not. In other words, those who are wicked and in rebellion against God, as compared to those who have placed their faith in God, through Christ alone. In addition, these passages are not contrasting the rich verses the poor. Rather, they are showing that the rich place their trust in their wealth, while the poor believe their poverty leads to destruction. However, neither case is true! Both are wrong! Both the rich and the poor in these passages have forgotten that they need to equally trust in the Lord. Both poor and rich need to equally follow God's guidance through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which can only come from a relationship with Jesus through faith.

Riches and wealth will not spare anyone from God's wrath, nor will it with hold God's discipline. Likewise poverty will not prevent God's blessing from coming upon those who are poor, nor will poverty prevent God's great work in a person's life. Rather, true wealth and poverty is determined by our faith in God, and our relationship with Jesus. Our wealth in God's eyes is determined by the trust we place in Christ alone. Wealth in God's eyes has nothing to do with our circumstances in life, nor our possessions. This is true because no wealth gained during our life will go to heaven with us. Instead, what we do in this life out of our love for Jesus will translate to blessings in Heaven. Therefore, the labor which leads to life is our faith and endurance for the Lord based on our relationship with Jesus and has nothing to do with our material possessions while in this world. As a matter of fact, God calls on all people to use the time, talents and resources they have to help and bless those around them, further the kingdom of God and the spread of the Gospel of Christ!

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