Wealth vs Riches

(Pro 13:11 KJV)  Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

As I read this today I began to think about the possible difference between wealth and riches.  In modern economics they are not the same.  Wealth can be used as a synonym but has more of an attitude of the total amount of value in society rather than just what you have in your bank account.  

What seemed to resonate with me is that the uncountable dollars accumulated by a few people who manipulate paper in places like the stock market are not real wealth for society.  It may line their pockets but the self-centeredness, or vanity, of such focus actually has the potential to suck the life out of a country.  Real wealth is the result of producing not manipulating.

So?  This does not mean we don’t invest but it does mean that we keep a perspective on what will actually make the physical world a better place for all men.  If hedge fund managers all disappeared tomorrow the world would go on.  If all the plumbers were raptured it would be almost instant chaos.  

You Don’t Have to Like It

Proverbs 22:7 (KJV) The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Beware of the standards of the intellectuals.  One of the rallying cries of the agitators today is equality.  They want to “redistribute” wealth until everyone is equal.  That is a very cozy dream but it does not fit life or the world God has created.

There will always be levels of income and influence.  Some will have power, some not.  Certain people will rule.  There is a reason for that.  Some people demonstrate their right to be in charge because they are successful.  Would you want to work for a poor man?  What kind of wages do you think he could pay?

Also found in these Proverbs is the responsibility placed on those who have power.  It is not to be self-seeking or oppressive.  That is where people go wrong.  They think they are rich because they are better.  The message is that the rich are to be better servants.

So?  If you have any authority, use it wisely and in keeping with the standards that 
God has given you.  That can be the authority of a parent, a policeman, a teacher, an employer or simply a supervisor of a new hire.  It applies at all levels.  

Relative Rewards

Proverbs 22:4 (KJV) By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

What are riches?  What is honor?  How do you measure them.  Many people would define them in ways that are not consistent with Biblical values.  An old example comes to mind about asking a rich man how much money he needed to be content.  The answer?  “Just a little bit more.”

The reward in riches I think involves having enough to be content.  It is having enough.  The CEO of the company might laugh at your nest egg but if you are living in the Lord it will be enough for you to live well.  And of course the idea of riches goes beyond dollar signs.  When I think of the blessings of riches I think of grandchildren.  You can go on from there.

So?  Put on your God’s eye glasses and submit yourself to Him in obedience.  You will see things that others are not privileged to understand.  

Bedrock Economic Principle

Proverbs 11:24 (KJV) There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

I don’t know if you would call it a principle of capitalism or laissez-faire economics, but there is an important foundation here for why some cultures work and prosper and others stagnate.  The so-called robber baron understood this.  For all of the criticism they receive the overall effect of what they did benefited the nation and mankind.

Why is it important to pay your employees an adequate salary?  The God-given principle is that when you distribute profits fairly it will benefit everybody including yourself.  An example of that it would be that a person like Henry Ford knew that if his employees could not afford to buy his car, then he wouldn’t sell many cars.

One of the features of Third World countries and one of the results of socialism is that most of the wealth ends up in just a few hands and everybody else lives in the gutter.  In free enterprise you still have the wealthy but everyone benefits.

So?  You may not run a big company, but you might employ someone to do some house work for you, to mow your lawn, to wait on you in a restaurant.  Make sure that you are sharing the wealth that God has blessed you with.  It will benefit everyone, including yourself.  

Frugal?

Proverbs 30:8 (NASB95) Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion,

Every time I read this, I want to make it my prayer also.  On reflecting this morning, I feel that God has honored this in my life.

I was at dinner with the old fogies at the church and as we were leaving, we were talking about leaving a tip .  As a rule, we tend to be a generous bunch because we realize God is blessed us.  As we walked out one of the guys confessed that he tended to be cheap.  His wife said maybe a better word is frugal.  I will go with either one for myself.

I tend to be cheap.  Often, I will buy something that is not up to snuff simply because it’s a few cents cheaper.  I need to get over that because there is a big difference between being cheap and being frugal.  Frugal gets a good buy.  Frugal makes your money goes as far as possible.  Frugal is capable of being generous.

And that’s where I want to be.  I want to be frugal and make conscientious, responsible purchases.  I want to be generous when it comes to things like tipping . These people get up and go to work on jobs that I could not survive on.  They make dining a pleasure and increase the value of our lives.  It’s only right that we share the wealth.

So?  I don’t think this is what Solomon had in mind, but tip the people who bring you refills on your drinks and that extra napkin that you need because you were sloppy.  They work hard and God has blessed you.  That’s a blessing.  

Attribute or Action

Proverbs 28:16 (KJV) The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

Yeah, we have another one of those chicken or the egg scenarios.  Which comes first, being an oppressor or lacking understanding?

People are very quick to attack free enterprise and capitalism because they see the disparities of wealth.  My belief is that many of the early capitalist, the ones often called robber barons, were very much aware of the difference between building wealth and oppressing the poor.  Some point out the attitude or philosophy of zero sum economics as opposed to the ability to generate wealth.

The one who has understanding, the one who has wealth, the one who has power understands that it will be better for everyone, not just himself, if he is not an oppressor.  Henry Ford understood that if his workers could not afford to buy his car, then he would not sell very many cars.

So?  As you pursue life, pursue wisdom.  Pursue understanding.  And of course, that starts with the values and balance shown in the scripture.  

True Wealth

Proverbs 10:22 (KJV) The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Verses like this are easy to misinterpret.  We take them literally when it’s more of a principle or figurative language.  We know this because God has a special place in His heart for the poor, and we know that being rich can drag people into decisions that destroy them.  We know people who live righteous lives who are not rich.  At least that’s true in terms of money.  Here’s where the CSB seems to give us a valuable insight.

Proverbs 10:22 (CSB) The LORD's blessing enriches, and he adds no painful effort to it.

I like this word enriches, because it opens up the vast range of ways in which God makes life better for His people.  This leaves the gate open for people living very close to poverty level.  It points out that the joy of life is not in how shiny your car is but is the people that you carry in it.

So?  Be careful when you listen to the prosperity folks.  They have such a limited understanding of what the riches of God are.  God is not always in your bank balance.  One reason is that when our bank balance gets padded, our sensitivity to God becomes calloused. 

Leavings of Gold

(Pro 13:22 KJV)  A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Again the Amplified Bible throws in some interesting interpretation.  It gives an opinion about the “inheritance” (5157) by adding “of moral stability and goodness”.  I like that.  I would not make it a doctrinal position because that is not what the Bible says here but the general principle is good.  Our example in how we live our lives is a vital part of what we leave to our decedents.  It may even be the most important thing we can leave.

My father did not leave much in the way of wealth.  He left a fortune in example.  He passed it on to his boys.  His boys passed it on to their children.  I can still see that working in lives today when whatever money was left is long gone.

So?  Get your priorities straight.  It isn’t how many dollars you leave it is how much “moral stability and goodness” you demonstrated. 

A Different Type of Eagle Wing

(Pro 23:5 KJV)  Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Notice that the word “riches” is not in the original Hebrew at this point.  It refers back to the previous verse.  The idea is that riches tend to disappear.  As an example think of people who have won a big check in the lottery, who receive a large inheritance or some other unearned bit of wealth.  What tends to happen?  They blow it and end up as poor as before.

Many Americans have an income that would put them in the upper class in the third world.  I hear about how cheap it is to live in some countries.  In spite of that they are one pay check away from disaster.  They have no savings.  Their credit cards are maxed out.  At the same time someone who has limited income has their bills paid and their home paid off.  Why?  How?

People who focus on riches tend to think it is there to spend.  So they spend.  They figure they will make up for it later but they never do.  As a result, it flies away.

So?  God will meet our needs but we have a part in that formula.  It means that we practice stewardship.  It means we follow His priorities.  It means learning the difference between need and want.  Check your bank account as see how you are doing. 

Better a Landlord than a Tenant

(Pro 27:26 KJV)  The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

What are the goats and lambs of your life?  I am not a shepherd.  I have no desire to be a goatherd.  I am content admiring them from afar and letting the children pet them.  At the same time there are things in my life that take their place.  This is a verse in support of free market responsibility.  We are to use our assets to provide for our needs.  Notice that you are not eating the sheep, you are shearing them.  And you are encouraged to buy land.

God expects us to be givers, not takers.  That is a bit of a jump from this but consistent with it.  I am not to expect my neighbors goats to supply my clothing.  I think it also implies it is better to own the field than rent.

So?  Consider God’s guidance of your financial life as much as your spiritual walk.  Maybe they are intertwined more than we think.

The Richest Man in America

(Pro 10:22 KJV)  The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

As I sit in worship each morning I have a time of praise and a time of thanksgiving.  When I am focused on gratitude I often start listing all the blessings I have.  I start with Jesus being willing to give up equality with God and suffering death on a cross.  I rejoice in the presence of the Holy Spirit.  I then look around and marvel at how well God has provided for me.  Then the grandchildren come to mind.  I am truly “rich” (6238).

I live in the smallest house on the hill.  I would guess I drive the oldest car in the neighborhood.  I am possibly the riches within shouting distance.  

So?  We live in unsettled times.  Thieves may break in.  The government may push them aside to get their share.  I will still be rich. 

The Joy of Poverty

(Pro 13:8 KJV)  The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

Both the translations I work from agree on the translation of “rebuke” (1606).  That seems to be the meaning of the Hebrew word.  It seemed a bit strange but when I looked through the translations I have I noticed that many of them took a different spin.  The International Standard Version gives a good sample of this.

(Pro 13:8 ISV) The life of a wealthy man may be held for ransom, but whoever is poor receives no threats.

Think of it as an advantage of being poor.  If you are a thief are you going to break into the house of a poor man or a rich one?  To many this seems obvious.  I am not sure that people who live in poor neighborhoods would agree that it is that simple but you understand the concept.

So?  Should we rejoice that we are not worth robbing?  I think the idea is more that our focus is different and we benefit from it.  Remember what Jesus said about a rich man and the eye of a needle. 

She Earned It

(Pro 31:16 KJV) She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

We have a lot of stereotypes about the past.  Many of them have to do with the patriarchal nature of the society and how that kept women in subordinate roles.  Cultures based on muscles and the power of the sword probably fit this pretty well, although there are plenty of stories of women overcoming even those obstacles.  A culture built on Biblical foundations trends more in the way of opportunity and success for women.  Keep in mind the opening chapter of Genesis.

(Gen 1:27 KJV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

When you start with the statement that women are part of the image of God you need to put some brakes on your Tarzan images.  

The KJV talks about the “fruit” (6529) of her “hands” (3709), which is the translation given in the margin of the NASB.  This is a powerful way of getting the NASB’s “earnings”.  You don’t have earnings unless you are working on something that gives earnings.

So?  Although I support the woman who is a full time wife and mother, you cannot rule out the place of a woman earning.  Nuance is often important.  Flexibility is a part of the spiritual walk as long as it is not violating basic Biblical standards. 

Financial Shenanigans

(Pro 22:27 KJV) If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

In trying to understand what is being said here I examined the context.  That is often useless in Proverbs because many of the couplets are stand alone propositions.  It is easy to see this one being an extension of the previous verse and almost automatic to say it has nothing to do with the next.  The Bible does not support sloth or irresponsibility.  In isolation this verse seems to be okay with that and the one loaning the money is the bad guy.  I think the landmark mentioned in the next verse gives us a clue.

This is about victims of oppression by the rich.  It is speaking about people who come in during a time of extreme hardship, make loans that they know people cannot pay back and then take away the property that has been in their family for generations.  I think the point is to examine our motives and our methods.  There are some kinds of loans we should not make.  If we have someone hungry we don’t loan them money knowing that they will default and we get to take their home.

So?  It is a hard line to follow but our concern for people should overrule our clever financial arrangements. 

A Poor Benefit

(Pro 18:23 KJV) The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

“Intreaties” (supplications NASB) (8469) is used eighteen times in the OT, only here in Proverbs.  The NASB always uses “supplication” as does the KJV, except here.  As I read through the verses it seems that the one appealed to was always God.  It is something that has often been observed that poor people tend to understand their dependence on God better than the wealthy.

I have known a few people that I would consider on the edge of rich if not actually.  The ones I knew were wonderful human beings who seemed to deal with their wealth well.  A sad truth is that many people don’t.  I sometimes wonder if I was not born wealthy because I could not handle it.  When people don’t know what it is to have to economize they often begin to put their trust in the money they have invested and the material things they own.  That is the definition of materialism.  Americans are very much at risk of this because even our “poor” tend to live better than the people of most of the world.

So?  If you are one of the poor then be glad that you have a God who watches over you and hears your “supplications”.  If you have plenty don’t ever forget to be grateful. 

Putting Life into IKEA

(Pro 24:4 KJV) And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Man has a materialism magnet inside his heart.  We can’t help it.  We are physical beings living in a physical world.  You can’t eat a philosophical position and having the right position on the trinity will not keep you warm on a cold night.  We need a certain amount of wealth to survive and live decent lives.  In spite of that, material things are not enough. 

Our hearts, minds and homes need more than electricity and a well stocked kitchen.  If you have never been to an IKEA store you might want to see one.  At one place in the store they have models that show you how you can have a two bedroom house in under 700 square feet.  Of course it is stocked with their products.  What is missing is the “knowledge” that makes it a place you would want to come home to. 

So?  Make sure that you know where you stand in relation to things eternal.  That is the key to making all the other stuff of life have any real value. 

Target of Wisdom

(Pro 8:21 KJV) That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

I don’t know if they did it on purpose but the KJV seems to get the depth of this verse better than the NASB.  Where the NASB has “wealth” (3426) the KJV has “substance”.  They are the same in Hebrew.  In Proverbs the most frequent way of translating it in the KJV is “there is”.  The definition has the idea of existence and nothing about wealth.  This tells me that the promise of wisdom is not material as much an a contribution to our inner being, our substance.

There are promises that seem to imply wisdom brings financial success.  That is fine but financial success becomes destructive unless it is managed by an inner strength that comes from wisdom.  That is one of the reasons you can give two people the same opportunities and rewards and one will be a pillar of the community while the other is in all kinds of courts, bankruptcy, divorce, traffic, civil, criminal. 

So?  Seek wisdom and allow it to do its miracle of grace on your inner being.  It will make a difference. 

Economics and Vanity

(Pro 13:11 KJV) Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

I wonder if this could be interpreted as a statement about capitalism?  Much of what we see going on in the world of investments and securities is based on duping the public, fraud.  Many millionaires have generated wealth only on paper, producing nothing.  Real wealth comes from the work of people, not manipulating stock markets.  This would tend to sound like a statement made by a Communist. 

But the contrast is not between working with your hands as opposed to an office job.  The contrast is between “fraud” (1892) and actual gathering.  It is a contrast between actually producing and simply looking like you are producing.  This is the word repeatedly used in Ecclesiastes. 

(Ecc 1:2 KJV) Vanity (1891) of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

When political voices call for the redistribution of wealth they are speaking in terms of vanity.  They want people to have the fruits of gathering without the effort.  Of course you could also condemn those who generate billions by pressing buttons and manipulating stocks.  They also produce nothing.

So?  God expects us to work for our support.  That will generate different results but, as long as the work in honorable and without fraud it can be blessed. 

Hang On to What You’ve Got

(Pro 11:16 KJV) A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

This is another place where the translators make choices and it comes out different.  I find that the NASB clashes with the principles God wants us to live by.  I find that the KJV makes sense.  One difference is the word that KJV translates “retain” (8551) and the NASB gives as “attains”.  The word itself is neutral in moral value.  It can be negative as,

(Pro 5:22 KJV) His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden (8551) with the cords of his sins.

It can also be positive,

(Pro 31:19 KJV) She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold (8551) the distaff.

So?  I would say that one of the jobs of a man is to maintain the family wealth instead of squandering it.  Other places may include the women in this task but here it is a recommendation to the husband. 

A Winning Lottery Ticket

(Pro 21:17 KJV) He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

I think this is a principle rather than a law.  It is illustrated in life by lottery winners.  I have not researched it but the popular wisdom is that most people who win millions in the lottery are poor again within a short period of time.  When I am on vacation punishment and forced to watch TV shows I saw one that had a real estate agent hustling lottery winners and getting them to buy extravagant homes.  I don’t think there was ever a reference to how much it would take to keep the places up.  I would imagine that the HOA fees on some of them were multiples of what the people were used to living on.  It made for good TV for the oil and wine crowd but set my teeth on edge.

This does not mean that some who chase wealth will not achieve it.  The question is, will it bring that inner satisfaction that says, “Well done.”  It may in some cases but keep in mind that some people are deliberately going to hell.  They joke about heaven sounding too boring.

So?  We need to stop every once in awhile, not to smell the roses but to look up and see if we are still heading toward the goal we really want.