True wealth, real poverty

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog.

Friday, September 18, 2009
Devotions: Proverbs 22

Choose a good name over riches, favor with God and humanity rather than silver or gold. God makes both rich and poor—we’re more alike than different, and equal before Him. Prudent people foresee danger and protect themselves; fools push on and suffer for it. Humility and godly awe produce riches, honor, and life. Pain and struggle face the perverse; the careful avoid these problems. Train children in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will persevere in right living. The rich rule the poor; lenders enslave borrowers. Sow injustice, and reap calamity, despite your rod of fury. The bountiful will be blessed, because they share their substance with the poor. Drive out scoffers and you will also end strife, quarreling and abuse. Those who love purity of heart and who speak graciously will be friends with kings. God’s eyes watch over knowledge, and He overthrows the words of the faithless. The lazy make up excuses to be idle: ‘There’s a lion in the streets! I’ll be killed if I go outside!’ A loose woman is a deep pit; those with whom God is angry will fall into it. Children’s hearts enfold folly, but the rod of discipline drives it far from them. One who oppresses the poor to gain wealth, or who curries favor with the rich, will come to want. Listen to the wise; apply yourself to godly knowledge, for you’ll have joy if you live and speak wisely. Wisdom is intended to prosper the people of God, so that we may know what is right and true and give good responses to those who depend on us. Do not rob or oppress the poor; God pleads their cause and will punish those who hurt them. [Are we not all poor before God?] Avoid angry men, lest you become ensnared in anger yourself. Don’t make pledges for the debts of others—you could lose all you possess. Leave others’ property alone, and respect the traditions of your people. Take note of skilled people; they will stand before kings, and will not toil in obscurity.