Posted on 01/18/2022 10:28:08 PM PST by Pilgrim's Progress
“Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool” (Proverbs 19:1 KJV).
Any time we see the word “better,” it is giving some comparison in life and giving you something true about life, that many people don’t see. Verse 1 is comparing a rich man to a poor man, so what he is saying is that it is better to be poor and have integrity, than to be rich and be perverted, and be a fool. Some people would trade their integrity for money, and some people would sell themselves for money, but all they are really doing is selling themselves to another’s control, abuse, and someone else’s use where they can’t really be free.
When we were saved, we became free. Christ made us free, the Word of God makes us free. A man that sells out for money has also sold away his freedom. He’s captive of his own lusts.
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1Ti 6:9 KJV).
It’s a never-ending game of trying to get money and trying to keep money, and to keep everybody else away from it, and to cut corners to get it. And all it does is draw a man into a big trap and a snare, until it destroys him.
“Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity,” integrity is honesty, being upright, being truthful (not cutting a corner or lying to make money). It’s better to be poor and honest, than to be rich and crooked.
When we look at the story of the rich man and Lazarus, for 40-50-60 years it looked like the rich man was living on top of the world. But, in the end it was the rich man that went to hell and Lazarus went to paradise. Of course, under the Old Testament system, a man’s righteousness was his salvation, it was a whole lot better to be poor and to walk in one’s integrity.
Now, that’s not saying it is good to be poor. Don’t go out and sell all your things and think that that is somehow going to give you character. The poor man that walks in his integrity is a man that has character whether he is poor or rich. He does right whether he is poor or rich. Paul had good things to say of some that are rich: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (1Ti 6:17-18 KJV).
A good man that has integrity will do good. And if he has money, he will use it properly, and he’ll use it for God’s glory. He won’t mishandle it or misuse it for his own lusts. So character is really the key to the whole situation. Peter said, “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Act 10:35 KJV). Cornelius got in and got the gospel because, even though he was a lost hell-bound sinner, he wanted to do right if he knew to do right—there was a desire in him to do right—and that kind of man will be open to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
These axioms that begin with the word, “better,” are frequently found in the book of Proverbs (12:9, 15:16-17, 16:18-19, 17:1, 21:9, 19. We are better off having character than coin.
Usually, a man that has character can earn a good living. He may have lean times from awhile, he may even run into some bad fortune, but eventually he will make money and be content with what he has. “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1Ti 6:6 KJV). People in business are more likely to hire an honest man than someone they know is crooked.
Certainly, there are poor people without character, and a poor man in this situation will steal. “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain” (Proverbs 30:8-9 KJV). Some poor feel cheated and steal because they believe they are just getting what’s owed to them and feels justified in doing it. A man that has integrity won’t do it. He’ll go out and grow something, if need be, but he won’t steal
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