What’s It Worth?

Proverbs 22:1-12

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)

Some things are worth more than any amount of wealth.  A good reputation is one of those things.  Love and respect are equally valuable.

 

“The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.” (Proverbs 22:2)

Many times the rich are considered better than the poor.  Such an attitude overlooks the fact that their riches are the result of their interaction with the poor, and that God created them as equals.

 

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” (Proverbs 22:3)   

A wise or careful person pays attention and sees the warning signs and takes action to avoid problems.  The foolish person ignores the warnings and doesn’t bother to avoid the problem.  As a result, he has to suffer the consequences.

   

“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.  Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.” (Proverbs 22:4-5)

An honest assessment of our own importance, recognizing our weakness and respect for God will result in wealth, respect from others and a good life.  Constant struggle frustration and conflict await those who will not exercise self-discipline.  A person who exercises self-control avoids the problems the undisciplined face.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Training requires more than simply teaching or telling the person.  It is necessary to actually practice what is being taught, correcting errors and repeating it until they can consistently do it properly.   One reason so many young people turn away from serving the Lord today is that while they have been told what is right, they have never been trained how to do it properly and become discouraged or learn counterproductive habits.

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

Poor people end up working for and being bossed around by the rich.  A person who borrows owes the lender and is forced to pay until the loan is paid off, effectively making him a slave to the lender.  Is that loan really worth giving up your freedom for? 

“He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.” (Proverbs 22:8)

Galatians 6:7-8 warns, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”  If you sow wild oats when you are young, you’ll get to spend the rest of your life trying to get rid of them, and there is a limit how far one’s anger will carry him.     

“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9)

A person who feels blessed with what he has will be blessed even more because he willingly shares it with others who have less.    

“Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.” (Proverbs 22:10)

If you get rid of the person who thinks he is better than everyone else and doesn’t have to follow the same rules or respect the rights of others, and there won’t be any more arguing and fighting. 

 

“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” (Proverbs 22:11)

A legitimate government will respect and honor what those who value an honest and good life have to say.   

“The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.” (Proverbs 22:12)

God looks for ways to save and pass on knowledge so that people don’t have to be ignorant.  At the same time he destroys and shows up the foolishness of those who refuse to learn.