December 4, 2017

HONEST AND FAIR IS MUCH MORE THAN BEING WEALTHY AND FULL OF FLAIR!

Proverbs 28:1–8

Jake Horvath
Monday's Devo

December 4, 2017

Monday's Devo

December 4, 2017

Central Truth

While the world focuses on the outside of a person, the Lord focuses on the inside.

Key Verse | Proverbs 28:6

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
(Proverbs 28:6)

Proverbs 28:1–8

The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but the righteous are bold as a lion.
When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,
    but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
    its stability will long continue.
A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law strive against them.
Evil men do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
    than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
    but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit 1 28:8 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor
    gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

Footnotes

[1] 28:8 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor

Dive Deeper | Proverbs 28:1–8

Chapter 28 of Proverbs starts off with contrasting statements: This BUT that. Verse six begins with BETTER. These words give the reader the answer to the lesson before the verse is completed. Whatever the word “better” describes is the obvious choice when presented with two options. It is better to be poor with integrity than rich with corruption.

What is interesting is that God looks at the internal condition of a person, or their heart, to find if it is healthy or sick, rather than the condition of their bank account, personal appearance, or sphere of influence.

Merriam-Webster defines integrity as “the quality of being honest and fair,” or “the state of being complete or whole.” Integrity is incorruptible. For example, you would want to drive your vehicle on a bridge that has structural integrity—it’s trustworthy. Otherwise, if the bridge becomes corroded, it will eventually become corrupted and then crooked and even collapse, leading to despair, destruction, and death.

The poor man of integrity has nothing to offer but his character that is trustworthy, honest, and uncorrupted. The corrupt rich man has a shiny veneer, but the world has polluted and rotted him.

Jesus Christ, who was rich in glory, chose to enter into history to become poor. He lived and ministered as a servant and died as a savior who paid the penalty for the sins of the world. Then, as the Messiah, He conquered death when He rose from the grave! 

Jesus again surprised when He referred to Himself as the cornerstone that the builders rejected (Matthew 21:42). This means that Jesus, the Son of God rejected by the world, received the ultimate place of prominence. When we place our faith in Christ, we will not be put to shame (1 Peter 2:4-6).

Josh McDowell says it this way, “Few people seem to realize that the resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone to a worldview that provides the perspective to all of life.”

If Jesus is your cornerstone . . . that rock is solid on which you stand, all other ground is sinking sand!

Discussion Questions

1. What are you placing your faith in right now? Solid Rock or sinking sand?

2. Do you relate more to the corrupt rich man or the virtuous poor man?

3. If you have not yet placed your faith in Jesus Christ, will you do that today? Who will you tell?