Posted by Jeff Short on August 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
– Proverbs 16:8
Proverbs doesn’t denounce wealth in itself, just as the rest of Scripture, though wealth is never exalted as a goal or the ultimate mark of God’s favor. This proverb highlights wealth in relation to ethics and approaching legality. The terms,
righteousness and
right, refer to justice. The contrast is between having
little or
great revenues, or income. The proverb does not exalt poverty, for
little is what we would call a modest income. The point of interest is how the
little or the
great is obtained. It is better to be just in whatever we have, whether
little or
great (Proverbs 15:16; 21:6-7).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
– Proverbs 15:27
The word for
greedy means covetous, but also violence. The
greedy want gain at all costs, even to death (Proverbs 1:19). They are in a hurry to get rich (Proverbs 28:22). Greed is a driving force rather than wisdom and brings trouble, or disturbance, to
his own house (Proverbs 11:29). The contrasting phrase juxtaposes life, so we infer pursuing greed leads to death (Proverbs 11:19). The way of wisdom and way of life is to hate
gifts (Proverbs 8:13). The word for
gifts means a present. The word sometimes means a bribe and Proverbs warns against bribes to pervert justice (Proverbs 28:16; 29:4).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 8, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
– Proverbs 15:17
This proverb also deals with wealth, though indirectly. Wealth is not the focus, rather the contrast of
love and
hatred. To have
love is to have good relationships with family and even friends. It is to have a home of peace and contentment. The
dinner of herbs is a modest meal as opposed to the
stalled ox, which is an indication of means. Love is absent where
hatred is present and it brings strife and contention to a house. Obviously, the first condition is better than the second with a house of strife, anger, and contentions (Proverbs 17:1; 21:19).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 7, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
– Proverbs 15:16
This is one of those proverbs that refute the notion the blessing and prosperity of wisdom is material. It is better to have wisdom than not (Proverbs 3:14; 8:11, 19; 16:16), and it is better to have
the fear of the Lord, a meager supper, righteousness, a humble spirit, integrity, and uprightness than riches (Proverbs 15:17; 16:8, 19; 17:1; 19:1; 28:6). The word for
trouble means tumult, confusion, and vexation. We might say it is a great grief or worry of mind. Material substance is not ultimate, and not to be preferred when it comes with trouble (Ecclesiastes 5:10-12).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 27, 2017 · Leave a Comment
In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
– Proverbs 15:6
The
righteous and the
wicked are both gaining. The gain of the
righteous is stored up as
treasure, or wealth. The point of the first phrase is that through wisdom, the gains made by righteousness are a blessing (Proverbs 8:21; 21:20). These blessed gains come through honest and hard work (Proverbs 10:4; 21:5). The word for
revenues means income, or produce. The word for
trouble means to roil water, i.e., to stir up or disturb. The
wicked pursue gains hastily and craftily, so they come with much trouble (Proverbs 20:21; 21:5-7; 28:22).
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 2, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.
– Proverbs 13:11
The word for
vanity means empty. It is contrasted in this proverb with
labor, which indicates work with the hands. So
vanity here doesn’t exclude illegitimacy but the contrast speaks more to haste and trying to gain wealth without working for it. It reminds us of those always attracted by the offer of making a lot of money with little time or effort. Other similar proverbs speak of haste instead of vanity (Proverbs 20:21; 21:5). The general tenor of Proverbs teaches that diligence, hard work, and good stewardship increases wealth without the attendant sorrows of the vain pursuers (Proverbs 27:23-27).
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Posted by Jeff Short on April 29, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
– Proverbs 13:8
The word for
ransom means a price or even a bribe. The word for
rebuke in this context likely means a threat. This proverb is obscure but it seems the contrast indicates a rich man is a target for extortion perhaps, whereas the poor man offers no such target and is not bothered with the fear of it. In this sense, the poor man is freer.
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Posted by Jeff Short on April 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
– Proverbs 13:7
This proverb seems ambiguous. It is a wisdom observation and doesn’t immediately make a value judgment. One way to take it is as an ironic statement. Some people have great wealth but really have nothing and are poor because wealth is all they have. Some have no wealth but are truly rich because of all they do have in terms of people and relationships. The moral in this case would be that money is not everything. Another way to take it, and the way that seems most natural, is as a character observation. Men are not always what they seem to be. Some pretend to be rich and they are not. Others pretend to be poor and they are not. Wisdom then will look beyond superficial appearances.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 20, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
– Proverbs 11:28
The contrast in this proverb is in the object of trust, or faith. Riches can be gained and lost. Proverbs views riches as short-lived and uncertain (Proverbs 23:5). To put trust in wealth is to fall, or come to ruin. At some point, riches will fail and hopes will be disappointed (Psalm 52:7; 62:10; Luke 12:20). The righteous are those who put their trust in the Lord. They may or may not have wealth, but that is not their refuge (Psalm 18:2). Because the righteous put their trust in the Lord, they will flourish (Psalm 52:8; 92:12-14).
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Proverbs 16:8
Posted by Jeff Short on August 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Proverbs doesn’t denounce wealth in itself, just as the rest of Scripture, though wealth is never exalted as a goal or the ultimate mark of God’s favor. This proverb highlights wealth in relation to ethics and approaching legality. The terms, righteousness and right, refer to justice. The contrast is between having little or great revenues, or income. The proverb does not exalt poverty, for little is what we would call a modest income. The point of interest is how the little or the great is obtained. It is better to be just in whatever we have, whether little or great (Proverbs 15:16; 21:6-7).– Proverbs 16:8
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