Wisdom in Wealth and Poverty

Tradition and Wisdom
Teaching and Learning:
An Ordered Life

Proverbs 28:8-16

The Message

 ⁸ Get as rich as you want
   through cheating and extortion,
But eventually some friend of the poor
   is going to give it all back to them.

 ⁹ God has no use for the prayers
   of the people who won't listen to him.

 ¹⁰ Lead good people down a wrong path
   and you'll come to a bad end;
   do good and you'll be rewarded for it.

 ¹¹ The rich think they know it all,
   but the poor can see right through them.

 ¹² When good people are promoted, everything is great,
   but when the bad are in charge, watch out!

 ¹³ You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it;
   you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.

 ¹⁴ A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life;
   a hardhearted person lives a hard life.

 ¹⁵ Lions roar and bears charge—
   and the wicked lord it over the poor.

 ¹⁶ Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds,
   but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright.

For Reflection
Wisdom and wealth are not synonymous terms.  One does not automatically result in the other.  Some of the wealthy are not wise.  Some of the wise are not wealthy. Some, like Solomon are both wealthy and wise.  In my book wisdom trumps wealth.  If one is wise he or she can deal with a poor financial state. Listen to the Lord, He responds to your prayers.

Pray
that you will recognize wisdom in all economic classes.  Pray that you will reject the advice of those who are wealthy but lack God-centered wisdom. Pray that the poor will find spiritual wealth.