Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: Wise Ways to Live II: Rich & Poor, Proverbs 13:7-12

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Proverbs 13:7–12

[7] One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;

another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

[8] The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,

but a poor man hears no threat.

[9] The light of the righteous rejoices,

but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

[10] By insolence comes nothing but strife,

but with those who take advice is wisdom.

[11] Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,

but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

[12] Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (ESV)

Wise Ways to Live II: Rich & Poor

v.7 Some people pretend to be what they are not, like the one who lives beyond their means or front as though they are rich when they are actually destitute. The righteous man may be poor in the worldly sense but has the riches of Divine Wisdom, which sustain him to everlasting life by grace through faith. Appearances can be deceiving, even when the truth should be obvious. Look at the serenity of the wise in Christ. The source of all that is good sustains them even through temporal misfortunes.

v.8 Wealth can be disadvantageous; he may have to use his riches to defend himself. But the poor man cannot even do that. Since he does not have the means to defend himself, he has to endure whatever comes his way. This is simply a proverb of common sense, neither condemning nor defending wealth per se. However, the wise man knows that rich or poor, ultimately, it is Christ who is our sure defense against all ills of body and soul.

v.9 The state of our soul is either bound to Christ's righteousness or our own wickedness. In this life, neither state may be obvious. But on the last day, the brightness of the righteous in Christ will outshine everything else, as it is a reflection of the glory of Jesus Christ. Yet, in this life, God's people continue to groan under the weight of their sin, which still infects the whole world. It will continue until the end at Christ's glorious return.

v.10 An arrogant attitude that places one's opinion over and above that of others produces only conflict, no matter how valid their insight or counsel may be. This is the attitude that hurts feelings and causes divisions. That person does not possess true Divine Wisdom, or they may possess it and twist it to their own sinful ends, thinking their actions are justified at the expense of others. In other words, the end does not justify the means, no matter how well-intentioned, if it comes at the expense of others simply for the status of being right.

v.11 This is another proverb cautioning against getting involved in "get rich quick" schemes. The wise person seeks to grow their wealth gradually by legitimate means. Depending on how you read this proverb, it may also be referring to a wealth of Wisdom, which one accumulates gradually over the experiences of a lifetime. There is no shortcut to such Wisdom.

v.12 This may be another proverb that simply states an observation about life, but it may also have a deeper meaning: The reason for a person's despair may be examined by another, so that good counsel may be given in order to give them encouragement in a time of trial or difficulty. Any hope that is partially realized can invigorate one who struggles. This can be a kind of metaphor for the Christian life, who has hope partially fulfilled when they come to faith, providing renewed vigor in their daily lives toward good works done for their neighbor through the power of the Holy Spirit. Of course, this hope is not completely fulfilled until the last day, at the return of Jesus, when He will wipe every tear from our eyes.