“The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends” (Proverbs 14:20).
Like poverty (see yesterday’s post), the book of Proverbs has much to say about having an abundance of material wealth. Consider these timeless truths about the rich:
- Wealth is a blessing from God (Prov. 10:22) which ought to create gratitude, not pride (Prov. 28:11).
- Some people are wealthy because of their hard work and diligence (Prov. 10:4, 13:4).
- Some people are wealthy because of their wisdom/financial shrewdness (Prov. 14:24).
- Some people are wealthy because of their forefather’s hard work and thrift, not their own (Prov. 19:14).
- Some people are wealthy because of their ruthless pursuit of material riches (Prov. 11:16, 22:16).
- People with wealth have many “friends” (Prov. 14:20).
- Wealth provides a way to power over others (Prov. 22:7).
- Material wealth does not profit in the day of God’s judgment (Prov. 11:4).
- Trusting in earthly riches is foolish (Prov. 11:28).
- Riches are fleeting (Prov. 27:24) and can disappear quickly (Prov. 23:5).
- Riches are not as valuable as a good name (Prov. 22:1).
- The rich and poor have the same divine Creator (Prov. 22:2).
