Proverbs 27 & 28: The Rich
Verse of the Day: (28:11) The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
1. The Rebuke (27:1-27)
Open rebuke is better than secret love. (27:5)
God’s love is the best as it is expressed in open rebuke for our sins, that we may repent them, and be reconciled with Him, so that one day, we shall have a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. God creates us in His image as well as free will, and His desire is for us to choose to receive Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, as our personal Saviour. Indeed, let us not boast about our achievements, as God holds our lives, and we do not even know whether we will live another day. Our lives are all about God and His love, mercy and grace, and let us thank Him for saving our souls, and His rebuke that is good for our souls. Let us also thank God for the rebuke of our faithful friends, as it like an iron sharpening another iron, and it helps us to be better Christians for His praise. (Revelation 3:14-22)
2. The Righteous (28:1-10)
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. (28:1)
Throughout the Bible, including the book of Proverbs, it is God’s desire that we receive Jesus as our Saviour who died and shed His blood for our sins so that we are righteous before Him in Jesus’ righteousness. Indeed, we shall be as bold as lions when we believe in Jesus, while the wicked shall be fearful even when no one is pursuing them because of their sins and guilt. Let us thus seek God and His righteousness, and not fame or fortune of this world, as He only hears and answers the fervent prayer of the righteous. (James 5)
3. The Rich (28:11-28)
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. (28:20)
There is nothing wrong for us to be rich, but the problem is that most rich people attribute their riches and success to their own wisdom, business acumen and diligence, and never to God. They fail to realise that in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, and all things including living creatures and mankind. Most often, the poor choose to believe in God because they depend upon Him daily to supply them with food and shelter. In fact, Jesus left the riches of heaven to become the son of a poor carpenter, when He could have chosen to be the son of a wealthy king. Jesus’ life on earth teaches us that it is not about material but spiritual riches that matters most, and that we must be faithful to Him to receive His blessings. Let us thus trust in Jesus, and be contended in life, thanking Him for His life example, that though He was rich in heaven yet for our sakes He became poor, so that we through His poverty become spiritually rich in Him. (2 Corinthians 8)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to love, praise and serve You whether I am rich or poor.
