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Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in His uprightness, than he that is PERVERSE {ʿiqqēš, crooked, twisted, distorted} in his ways, though he be rich.
Beware The Call Of Riches
This proverb is not telling us that riches are necessarily evil. There were well off people – like Joanna the wife of Chufa, the household manager of King Herod of Galilee. We are told in Luke 8:1-3 that she helped Jesus and his ministry financially. Joseph of Arimathea was a rich member of the Sanhedrin. Matthew 27:57-60 tells us that he gave his tomb to Jesus (temporarily anyway). Nicodemus, also a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin, helped prepare Jesus for burial by donating 75 pounds of expensive spices (John 19:39-40). When the Bible talks about those who are chosen to salvation, the Scripture says:
1 Corinthians 1:26 (KJV) For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, NOT MANY NOBLE, [are called]:
We are told “NOT MANY Noble”. It doesn’t say “NOT ANY”. God does call noble or well off people. It’s not a sin to have riches. However, it is a sin to love your riches MORE than you love Jesus. Those who prioritize their riches over their walk with God will find themselves wallowing in perversity. I am certain that Jeffrey Epstein didn’t start out trafficking underaged girls to Little Saint James Island. But as he amassed power and fortune, the darkness grew, and he enticed others into his web of evil.
When you focus on riches apart from Jesus, it is not long before you are absorbed by the darkness!
My Bridges Commentary notes, “A man may walk in his uprightness, and yet be poor. He may be perverse in his ways, and be rich. And yet the poor man, with all his external disadvantages, is better; more honorable, more happy, more useful than the rich, with all his earthly splendor”. It is significant that when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness in an attempt to derail His ministry before it ever started, that we read:
Matthew 4:8-9 (NKJV) Again, the devil took Him {Jesus} up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their GLORY {doxa}. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
Word Study: What was Satan offering Jesus? He was offering Jesus “GLORY”, the Greek doxa, which refers to the glory of God (John 11:40). The devil wanted Jesus to worship him rather than God, to worship the riches of this earth above God. Many who profess Christ as Savior do the same. They are like the rich young ruler who came to Jesus wanting to inherit eternal life (Luke 18:18). Jesus told the young rich man:
Luke 18:22-27 (NKJV) {Jesus} said to him, “You still lack one thing. SELL ALL THAT YOU HAVE and DISTRIBUTE TO THE POOR, and you will have treasure in heaven; and COME, FOLLOW ME.” 23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for HE WAS VERY RICH. 24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But He said, “THE THINGS WHICH ARE IMPOSSIBLE WITH MEN ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.”
It is better to be POOR and walk in HIS UPRIGHTNESS, in the way of Christ, than to be rich and twisted! Do you lack something that someone else has? You can obsess over getting what that person has. You can ignore the Tenth Commandment, which was given for our blessing:
Exodus 20:17 (LSB) You SHALL NOT COVET your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male slave or his female slave or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
The Apostle tells us in 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (LSB), “godliness actually is a means of GREAT GAIN, when accompanied by CONTENTMENT. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”
Be content with the companionship of God Himself. Walk with Jesus, daily, and be at peace.
Believers DO God’s Law
Proverbs 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of RIOTOUS {zālal} men shameth his Father.
Our Lord Jesus often quoted the Law of God. Though the Christian is not tied to the ceremonial, sacrificial, or sanitary laws that God gave to Israel (Matthew 5:17), FOR JESUS FULFILLED THEM, we are nonetheless still tied to the two great laws:
Matthew 22:37-40 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.”
A Christian is not to be immoral. We are not to worship idols. We are not to dishonor our parents. We are not to lie, steal, or violate the marital laws. Nine of the Ten Commandments given at Sinai are repeated or reinforced by the Apostles in the New Testament:
1st Command: No other gods — 1 Corinthians 8:6
2nd Command: No idols — 1 John 5:21
3rd Command: Do not take God’s name in vain — James 5:12
5th Command Honor your father and mother — Ephesians 6:1–2
6th Command: Do not murder — Romans 13:9
7th Command: Do not commit adultery — Romans 13:9
8th Command: Do not steal — Romans 13:9
9th Command: Do not bear false witness — Colossians 3:9
10th Command: Do not covet — Romans 13:9
An aside note: The command to keep the Sabbath is not carried forward, as Jesus is our Sabbath rest (Matthew 11:28-29; Mark 2:27-28; Hebrews 4:9-10). We meet on not the Sabbath, but on the first day of the week because this is the day that Jesus resurrected from the dead (John 20:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10). An early Pastor named Ignatius of Antioche (110 AD) wrote in a letter to the Magnesians (modern day Turkey):
“Christians are those “who have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living according to the Lord’s Day, on which also our life sprang up through Him.”
Another Pastor Justin Martyr (150 AD) wrote:
“On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place… the memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read. … Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly… because Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead on the same day.”
Word Study: The wise Child of God will keep the Commands of God. The Christian is called to love God with our all, and to love our neighbor as we would love ourselves. We are called to encourage and remind one another that we are under the Law of Love. And we are to avoid those who are “RIOTOUS”, the Hebrew zālal means “those who are vile, worthless, the ones who make light of God’s Law or consider it insignificant”. We come together as a Church to encourage one another to walk in the Way of Peace (Acts 9:2). We are to avoid walking with those who reject the Christian way of life. The Bible tells us:
1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV) Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
As we have read before:
Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Lift Up, Do Not Tear Down Your Brothers In Christ
Proverbs 28:8-9 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will PITY THE POOR. 9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even HIS PRAYER SHALL BE AN ABOMINATION.
Verse 8 is telling us that the rich man who got rich by robbing the poor is GATHERING RICHES for the one who pities the poor. The evil labor for riches, but their riches ultimately fall into better hands because of God’s Providence. The Psalmist wrote:
Psalm 140:12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and THE RIGHT OF THE POOR.
God specified in His Law:
Exodus 22:24 If you lend money to any of my people WHO ARE POOR among you, you shall NOT BE TO HIM AS A CREDITOR, neither shall you lay upon him USURY
You could loan money to the poor – but were forbidden to charge interest on what you loaned. You could not profit by lending to those who were destitute (see Leviticus 25:36; Deuteronomy 23:19-20; Ezekiel 18:13). To those who did so, ignoring the Law of God, “HIS PRAYER SHALL BE AN ABOMINATION”. God will not hear the prayer.
If you will not hear what God commands by His Voice, God will not hear YOUR VOICE!
God said through the Prophet Zechariah (7:11-13):
Zechariah 7:11-13 (LSB) But they refused to give heed and turned a stubborn shoulder and dulled their ears from hearing. 12 And they made their hearts diamond-hard so that they could not hear the law and the words which Yahweh of hosts had sent by His Spirit by the hand of the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from Yahweh of hosts. 13 And it happened that JUST AS HE CALLED AND THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN, so THEY CALLED AND I WOULD NOT LISTEN,” says Yahweh of hosts
When Nehemiah led the exiled back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls, he discovered that the well off returning exiles were charging the poor in Jerusalem high rates of interest on loans (Nehemiah 5:1-13). Nehemiah chastised them:
Nehemiah 5:6-10 (LSB) Then I was very angry when I had heard their outcry and these words. 7 I consulted within my own heart and CONTENDED WITH THE NOBLES AND OFFICIALS and said to them, “YOU ARE EXACTING USURY, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held A GREAT ASSEMBLY AGAINST THEM. 8 I said to them, “We, according to our ability, have bought [back] our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; and now would you also sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a word [to say]. 9 And I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10 “And likewise I, my brothers, and my young men are lending them money and grain. Please, LET US FORSAKE THIS USURY.
Those who were offending God “gave back the usury and required nothing from the poor” (Nehemiah 5:12). Believers are not to be greedy – especially against other believers.
Leaders Should Lead Us To God
Proverbs 28:10 Whoso CAUSETH THE RIGHTEOUS {yāšār} TO GO ASTRAY IN AN EVIL WAY, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the UPRIGHT {tāmîm} shall have good things in possession.
The leader who leads the RIGHTEOUS {yāšār}, those who follow the Way of Christ, off the pathway of God, will not profit. We are promised that “he shall fall himself into his own pit”. The Bible uses the word “RIGHTEOUS {yāšār}” for those who seek to walk with God, and honor His Word. The first rule for the leader is that they be “BLAMELESS”. Those who are blameless follow God’s Command to the best of their ability. Perhaps not perfectly, but as sincerely and honestly as possible. The command given believers is:
Philippians 2:14-16 (NKJV) Do all things {the things God says} without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become BLAMELESS {amemptos} and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Word Study: Those who are “BLAMELESS {amemptos}” do not deserve to be censured. The Prophet Job was called “BLAMELESS {amemptos} and upright” (Job 1:1; 1:8) in the Septuagint. Those who follow God to the best of their ability are promised blessings and honor. But those who lead others away from the path of righteousness, they will fall into their own pit. My commentary notes:
“The Bible is filled with examples of unrighteous people dragging society away from God and into sin. Potiphar’s wicked wife tried unsuccessfully to seduce Joseph (Genesis 39:7–10). Queen Jezebel introduced Baal worship into Israel and successfully lured her husband and his nation away from the worship of Jehovah (1 Kings 16:30–33; 21:25). Wicked kings such as Manasseh (2 Kings 21:9–12) did the same. Absalom, David’s son, triggered a bloody civil war against his father (2 Samuel 15:12–14). … a person is “blameless” when they cannot be credibly accused by others: they are not perfectly sinless, but they are clearly obedient to God. Proverbs 1:10 is clear: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.”
Who Is Wiser?
Proverbs 28:11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth Him {God} out.
The Apostle told the rich believer:
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (LSB) Command those WHO ARE RICH in this present age not to be haughty or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, BUT ON GOD, who RICHLY SUPPLIES US WITH ALL THINGS TO ENJOY. 18 [Command them] to DO GOOD, to BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
Riches can deceive. They give a false sense of security. The rich man that Jesus spoke of in Luke 16:19-31 thought little of Lazarus until he died. Once he died and “lifted up his eyes in hell”, suddenly Lazarus became important to him. “Send Lazarus to me with a drop of water to cool my thirst”. The rich man would have given every business and every penny he owed just to get a drop of water in hell!
The poor man understands that our only security in this life or the life to come is to know the Lord Jesus, and to seek Him out daily. To watch for Him in the storms of life, to follow Him onto the water.
Proverbs 28:12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
Vote For The Righteous Person
When righteous people are celebrated, the nation is blessed. When unrighteous people rise to power, people go into hiding. We saw a similar statement in …
Proverbs 11:10-11 (LSB) When it goes WELL WITH THE RIGHTEOUS, the CITY EXULTS, And when the WICKED PERISH, there is JOYFUL SHOUTING. 11 By THE BLESSING OF THE UPRIGHT A CITY IS RAISED UP, But BY THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED IT IS TORN DOWN.
Los Angeles and New York City once were beautiful cities. Yet today, the streets are like open landfills. Rats roam through the streets and throughout the places where people live. Drug abusers are given free needles, and once used, these disease coated daggers are tossed into the street for children to find. People need to understand that the genuine spiritual state of the leader they vote for will be reflected in the policies he espouses once he enters office.
Fools Will Not Forsake Sin
Proverbs 28:13-14 He that COVERETH HIS SINS SHALL NOT PROSPER: but whoso CONFESSETH and FORSAKETH them shall have mercy. 14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Our God will cover sin, but he is the only One Who can effectively cover sin. This is GRACE. The Psalmist wrote:
Psalm 82:5 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, THOU HAST COVERED ALL THEIR SIN. SELAH.
The word “SELAH” means “to REST”. You can rest when God covers your sins. But God will not cover your sins unless you REPENT. To REPENT means to CONFESS that sin unto God while FORSAKING the sin, ceasing to do it. The sinner who is not forgiven is the one who attempts to cover his own sin. Like Adam using fig leaves, when we attempt to cover our sin, it is very ineffective. The prideful sinner will redefine sin, or else deflect blame onto another. It will do not God. As God has said,
Numbers 32:23 … ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT
The Bible promises that “whatever sin you sow, you will reap its consequences” (Galatians 6:7). Why? Because “God watches – and all things are unhidden to God” (Hebrews 4:13). As Jesus told us,
Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that SHALL NOT BE MADE MANIFEST; neither any thing hid, that SHALL NOT BE KNOWN and COME ABROAD.
The smart person, the wise believer, fears sin always and confesses it as soon as it is perceived. When Moses went to Pharaoh and demanded that he let God’s people go, the Bible tells us:
Exodus 8:15, 32 when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, HE HARDENED HIS HEART, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. 32 Pharaoh HARDENED HIS HEART at this time also, and he would not let the people go.
It was only after several attempts that we read:
Exodus 9:12 the LORD HARDENED THE HEART OF PHARAOH, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had spoken unto Moses. (see also 10:1, 20, 27).
We need to keep short accounts with God. When convicted of sin, confess it and put it under the Blood of Christ. Only by loving obedience will God bless us. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
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