#924 Proverbs 19 Better Than Money

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity

than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

2 Desire without knowledge is not good,

and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

3 When a man's folly brings his way to ruin,

his heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth brings many new friends,

but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,

and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

7 All a poor man's brothers hate him;

how much more do his friends go far from him!

He pursues them with words, but does not have them.

8 Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;

he who keeps understanding will discover good.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and he who breathes out lies will perish.

10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,

much less for a slave to rule over princes.

11 Good sense makes one slow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish son is ruin to his father,

and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.

14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers,

but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,

and an idle person will suffer hunger.

16 Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life;

he who despises his ways will die.

17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will repay him for his deed.

18 Discipline your son, for there is hope;

do not set your heart on putting him to death.

19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,

for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,

that you may gain wisdom in the future.

21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,

and a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,

and whoever has it rests satisfied;

he will not be visited by harm.

24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish

and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;

reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother

is a son who brings shame and reproach.

27 Cease to hear instruction, my son,

and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,

and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers,

and beating for the backs of fools. Proverbs 19 ESV

Proverbs 19

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity - 

For the clinical pragmatist this will violate his world view; he or she will not see how it could possibly be better to be poor. They will see an advantage in claiming integrity, but since it is not the aim of their pursuit, not held above gain, the end will justify their means. They tell white lies, half truths, turn red in the face when their integrity is brought into question, but it is pride and words. They read books on how to win friends and influence people, how to look and sound sincere, what and what not to say, social reeds blowing in the wind, but never looking to clean more than the outside of the cup. I like how it says "his integrity", for those I have described, it does not belong to them, it is show, borrowed from books. I have known a few men who had integrity, not perfect, for no one here is, but they struggled and strive for it, that their words measured to the weight of their actions. They loved justice, but also showed much mercy. I knew a woman, who was also not without fault, but broken over her sins, prayerful and kind to all, realizing the image of God in everyone she met. She prayed for enemies and friends alike, and used the same words with the poor as with the rich. She was my mother. I saw her way as a disadvantage in this world, and for a long time I went another way. 

Desire without knowledge is not good -  The passionate think they are in the right because of the feelings that are invoked. Their actions flow from emotion, and they feel justified whatever the course. 

…11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. 13“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”…

…14“Their mouths are full of cursing and of bitterness.” 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery lie in their wake,… Romans 3: 11-16

…6 Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works. Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. 7 Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake. 8 The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace.… Isaiah 59: 6-8

His heart rages against the Lord - "Do this and you shall live", the law is for the lawless, the same would cry for justice against another, but yell at God when justice finds them. We would have all the benefits of God, but not want there to be a God. If there is then everything is His fault, even though we have claimed our autonomy, praised our free will, made the decision to walk the path we are on against His and other's admonishment. We receive in ourselves the consequences of our actions, and then cry out unfair. Pride refuses shame and fuels wrath. Stand in front a charging bull, and then be mad at God when you are trampled. 

…11“Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.”… Genesis 3: 11-13

Wealth brings many new friends - Sarcasm can be so refreshing to the one who is willing to understand.

Many seek the favor of a generous man - He will need much discernment.

It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury - Be careful who you elect, don't put a fool in a position of power, for he is only their for the benefits.

Much less for a slave to rule over princes - Do not set him up for failure in that which he has not been prepared. He may become the new oppressor. It is like the person who is poor with money winning the lottery. Joseph was the favored son of his father, knew some of livestock, was sold by his brothers into slavery, but God prepared him to rule. He rose to the top of Potiphar's house, was a trusted prisoner, known for wisdom, and then brought to the highest seat. David was a shepherd, a boy, a young man who killed a giant, served in the king's courts, in his army, was anointed but did not seek the life of the present king. He waited for God's time in this. Many have risen to power by overthrow, and made a more wicked state.

Good sense makes one slow to anger - Be quick to forgive, but slow to take insult, lest your anger become wrath.

…19 But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this— to preserve the lives of many people. 21 Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.… Genesis 50: 19-21

And a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain - This is probably best understood in modern English as nagging. That is a wearisome thing. 

But a prudent wife is from the Lord - Her thoughts are towards preparedness, and she is not a product of your making, but a gift from God. She seeks the best for her family and manages their affairs well. 

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord - This is so much, time, money, food, clothing, spiritual guidance and friendship. Yes, friendship, for all else have steered clear of his misfortune. 

Discipline your son, for there is hope - If you don't then you push him towards folly, certainly towards death. My generation left off parenting for entertainment, delusion, self esteem, and acted as though expectations and accountability were somehow cruel, but the end of their liberalism has been most devastating. 

And will not even bring it back to his mouth - He is so lazy that he cannot even feed himself. A full fridge will spoil because he cannot bring himself to prepare a meal. Those that carry the sluggard in this, that work when he will not, they are his slaves, and he is a wicked master seeking his own destruction. 

He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother - This was a hard lesson for me when I heard about the state of the man who never lifted a finger to support me. Someone else had already hung up the phone when they were told of my dad and step mom's condition, and all I could think is don't return evil for evil. If you leave them in this state then most people will understand it. What do I owe him? I don't know him, and what I have seen is a man who is self serving, two people who are parasitic in nature, but what did God owe me? I won't lie to you, it hasn't been easy, but I have changed a lot since I brought them under my roof. It is not a feel good, Hallmark channel story, where everyone becomes sweet and grateful, no, the steps are small, but I am learning to love someone who doesn't love me, and what could be more Christlike than that. I appreciate the love of God more every day. If I abandoned my dad in his old age, then how would I be any different than him?

…7 Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach. 8 If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man,… 1 Timothy 5: 7-9

A worthless witness mocks at justice - They are not there to be just, to tell the truth, but for some other sort of payment. No truth, no justice.