# 460 The Proverbs – ‘A manual for living’ (MSG). Proverbs 22 (1) Something more desirable than riches.

In my last Post, the subject was money, and I finished off quoting the first two verses of Proverbs 22 as follows:

A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

² Rich and poor have this in common:
    The Lord is the Maker of them all.

For some people, it seems it is hard for them to consider that there really is anything that could be more desirable than great riches. That is, until they finally come to a place in their lives (maybe when they have grown very wealthy or have gone bankrupt) when they realize that their lives are actually empty – empty of joy, peace of mind, close and meaningful relationships and much more.

Nielson comments: In this chapter “we find much attention given to the rich and the poor… At the start, riches are put down; they are lower in importance than ‘a good name’ or ‘favor’ (22:1). The point is to seek not riches but relationships – first with the Lord, who in Scripture is often the One in whose sight we find favor, or who grants favor in the sight of others.” (# 55)  

Concerning verse 2, Goldsworthy comments: “Every society has its rich and its poor. This is an inescapable fact of human existence over which God the Creator exercises his control. It is also true that the poor are created with the same dignity as the rich. Their value as human beings far outweighs any consideration of wealth.” (# 53)

Proverbs 22 continues with this subject as follows:

⁴ Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor and life.

“A right relationship with the Lord is the ultimate wisdom that makes for authentic living.” (# 53)

⁷ The rich rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

“This is a simple observation of a social fact: wealth is power.” (# 53) There are responsibilities which come with the privilege of being wealthy and sadly they are too often ignored!

⁹ The generous will themselves be blessed,
    for they share their food with the poor.

Remember the words of Jesus (quoted by Paul): ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’  (Acts 20:35)

¹⁶ One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

One suggestion of the meaning here is “It may… be a contrast between riches gained through oppression and poverty suffered through a vain attempt to buy favour from a rich man.” (# 53)

²² Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,
²³ for the Lord will take up their case
    and will exact life for life.

“A short instructional piece with divine retribution as the motive.” (# 53)

In our small group study this week in John 5 we noted the following words of Jesus to the religious leaders:

⁴⁴ How can you believe since you accept glory [praise] from one another but do not seek the glory [praise] that comes from the only God? (John 5:44 NIV)

Or as the NLT puts it:

⁴⁴ No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God. (NLT)

Whose “praise/glory/honour are we seeking in our dealings with our finances? And how is this impacting our “faith” i.e., our right relationship with God?