Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 526 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Better to Be Poor and Honest - Proverbs 28:1-14

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. Today is Day 526 of our trek, and it is Wisdom Wednesday. Every Wednesday along life’s trails we dig for the nuggets of wisdom that are found within the book of Proverbs. Today we will explore the 1st half of Chapter 28.

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Although life is not always easy and sometimes not everything turns out as we anticipated, if your life is driven by honesty and integrity, it will be rich and satisfying. This concept ties into verse 6 on today’s trek, which says…

Better To Be Poor and Honest

Let’s start our trek as we explore verses 1-14.

More Proverbs of Solomon

1 The wicked run away when no one is chasing them,

but the godly are as bold as lions.

Unfounded fear seems to grip so many people and sadly even those who profess faith in God. It is understandable if someone is fearful when their actions are contrary to God’s precepts in His Word. Irrational fear is caused by irrational thinking and actions. As Christ followers, we should not be fearful, but bold as lions. When we are fearful, it is because our faith is weak. The opposite of faith is fear.

2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily.

But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.

This scenario has been seen of governments across time and throughout the world. When the people of a nation no longer follow God, then all of society will be filled with moral rot. The next step is a failure of the government. Wise leaders will govern based on moral precepts, which bring stability.

3 A poor person who oppresses the poor

is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.

It is unimaginable that a person who is poor would treat another poor person badly. They of all people should have compassion on those that share the same plight. In the same manner, rain is good and necessary for crops to grow and prosper, but if rain comes too fast and hard, it will destroy the very crops that it is supposed to help.

4 To reject the law is to praise the wicked;

to obey the law is to fight them.

When a person rejects law and order within a government and country, they are giving a stronghold to those who do not follow God. Every stable nation needs a set of laws and guidelines for people to follow.  They will be the foundation for a stable government.

5 Evil people don’t understand justice,

but those who follow the Lord understand completely.

We see this so often in our world today where justice is not only misunderstood, but perverted. I suspect this has been an issue since the fall of man. All of us are susceptible to falling into the trap of calling evil good and good evil when it fits our particular paradigm. It is when we allow God’s Word to filter everything that goes into our mind where we will then understand true justice.

6 Better to be poor and honest

than to be dishonest and rich.

Such sound advice. No amount of riches is worth having if you become dishonest to obtain them. It certainly is better to be poor but have your integrity and reputation unspoiled.

7 Young people who obey the law are wise;

those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.

A person young or old will show their wisdom when they obey the laws of the land. As a parent, it is heartbreaking and embarrassing when our children become friends with those who ignore the law and God’s precepts.