Proverbs 19
I recently ran across an article that correlated the required amount of income, per year, per family, in each U.S. State to “make you happy.” This article postulated that there is a threshold of happiness, and no amount of money beyond their specific data-laden article increases your happiness. Maybe the famous 90’s rapper “Notorious B.I.G.” was right, “mo’ money mo’ problems.”
However, I would argue happiness is such a moving target. Many different things make people happy. A good book while snuggled by a fire, a cuddling session with a child or a pet, binge-watching Netflix (that’s my favorite), a romantic date, an outing with friends. The list is endless. (What is your happy place?)
Verse 4 stuck out today, “Wealth makes many ‘friends’; poverty drives them all away.” I wish Solomon would have given us more in this verse. On one hand you could interpret this rather straight-forward and say the friendships that spawned because of money may not be sincere or meaningful. Therefore, they are not authentic and will not produce much happiness. On the other hand, is “wealth” (money, cash, dinero. green paper with dead presidents on it) what everyone is trying to be friends with? In this case, the object of our friendship is “money itself,” not another person. This may be a reason we all strive and work hard to make more or become “intimate friends” with wealth.
This gives new meaning to yesterday’s last verse. There are “friends” who destroy (prov 18:24). What say you? How do you define this verse?
Blessings,
Pastor Adrian
However, I would argue happiness is such a moving target. Many different things make people happy. A good book while snuggled by a fire, a cuddling session with a child or a pet, binge-watching Netflix (that’s my favorite), a romantic date, an outing with friends. The list is endless. (What is your happy place?)
Verse 4 stuck out today, “Wealth makes many ‘friends’; poverty drives them all away.” I wish Solomon would have given us more in this verse. On one hand you could interpret this rather straight-forward and say the friendships that spawned because of money may not be sincere or meaningful. Therefore, they are not authentic and will not produce much happiness. On the other hand, is “wealth” (money, cash, dinero. green paper with dead presidents on it) what everyone is trying to be friends with? In this case, the object of our friendship is “money itself,” not another person. This may be a reason we all strive and work hard to make more or become “intimate friends” with wealth.
This gives new meaning to yesterday’s last verse. There are “friends” who destroy (prov 18:24). What say you? How do you define this verse?
Blessings,
Pastor Adrian
Posted in Proverbs Challenge
8 Comments
There was a brokerage house back in the 70's or 80's that had a great TV ad..."We make money the old fashioned way.....we EARN it." I think that Americans have lost the connection between money and doing work that contributes to society and consequently, we have lost the value of hard work. We worship the wealth it brings, but I believe that we should instead worship (maybe respect is a better word here) the work it took to earn it.
I spent most of yesterday rebuilding a gate in our wooden fence. It turned out to be much harder than I expected, but it didn't take long for me to discover that I was indeed in a very "happy place" while doing that work. One of the nice things about this kind of "happy place" is that you stay in it for quite a while after the work is done. God gave me a mind and a body, and that kind of work uses both as He intended and designed us for. No wonder it's a much happier place than Disneyland.
As a confession, I haven't even read Proverbs 19 yet, and am just responding to Pastor Adrian's comments....but I'll read it now in the hopes nothing I said proves to be irrelevant or, worse yet, contradictory.
Now that I've actually read it, the verse that stands out to me most is Verse 18...."Discipline your children".....
Discipline does not mean "punish", it means "teach". This is another value our society seems to be losing, especially as so many children grow up without a father in the home.
Mike, your comment is timely as we just spoke about children in this mornings message. Today "discipline and teaching" at best are misunderstood, at worse are seen as offensive and subjugating of young people. A recent huffington post (tells you all you need to know) articles title said, "Why Everything We Know About Discipline Is Wrong." It's premise was, Self-discipline is something we learn for ourselves, not something that can ever be imposed effectively by someone else. What a tragedy,
This is why Solomon says in verse 3: "People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord."
Let's blame God for all ills of the world... How about look in the mirror!
I agree with Mike, our culture now seems to focus on how to make big money with the least amount of effort. I was taught differently and will always give a 100%.
My favorite verses in this chapter were 20-23. Especially v.21. How's many times did I think the plans were were mine when all along they were God's purpose for me? Too many
Jeri, I agree. I am ashamed at our culture. Influencers, TikTokers, video bloggers, etc., all seem to be the new multilevel marketing scheme. I heard about content creators just coming up with dumb things for others to say and do and they write this stuff up in their basement. Do I sound bitter? Maybe I am...
Nonetheless, I'm reminded of proverbs 13:11- Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but money that is gathered little by little will grow.
Regarding your question Adrian, I think the culture of Solomon's day generally saw wealth as a sign of God's blessing and poverty as a sign of his disfavor. Of course, Proverbs makes exceptions for "ill-gotten wealth." I think Solomon is also reflecting a sad fact of our fallen human nature that we want to be around people who are thriving and successful-people who can bless us, rather than being people who are willing to pour ourselves out to the broken, hurting, and impoverished.
On another note, my favorite verse from Proverbs 19 is this: "A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense."
â€â€Proverbs‬ â€19‬:â€11‬ â€NIV‬‬
When we are patient with others, not reacting harshly to their unkind or harsh words, God considers this to be wise and glorious! There are times when confrontation is needed, and there are other times when it is best to just let the unkind words or actions of others roll off us like butter. A wise person knows when to tell the difference.
A verse that stuck out to me was verse 25: "If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser."
In full transparency, the reason I am always inviting feedback and correction from others of all walks of life is because of this verse. I want to become wiser at all costs. (Notice how I just assumed I am a wise person and not just simpleminded HA!)
It reminds me of the staying "if you give a man fish l, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish you feed him a lifetime.
There is no greater riches, than God's love!
Proverbs 19:1 ESV
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
Accountability is a rarity in this world.
Proverbs 19:9 ESV
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.