I'm a little hot under the collar right now; I just got finished reading a Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin inspired, message on why the Lord wants to make you rich. He used Proverbs 10:22 as one of his key texts.
Then, I made the mistake of looking at other things on Proverbs 10:22 that were on the internet, including Matthew Henry and Charles Bridges. Now, I respect the commenting of these two men, but I felt that each fell a little short of bluntly saying "When the entire Bible is taken into consideration, wealth does not indicate God's blessing & God's blessing does not indicate wealth." Now maybe they said as much in their quaint styles, but I missed it in my stroked condition. If they actually agree with the statement in quotes, they have my apologies for my inexcusable "pot-shotting."
Certainly, on the basis of Luke 16:11, we can dismiss the notion that material wealth is the "true blessing" rather than the "unrighteous mammon" it is called. But I don't even believe that the book of Proverbs, itself, is holding out Proverbs 10:22 as its monolithic teaching on riches or being rich. The same book also says:
How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
The Bible, considered as a whole, and even the Book of Proverbs, rightly understood, holds out the superiority of wisdom over wealth. Between the two, wisdom is the true blessing; wisdom, understanding, prudence, insight, and discernment, the true riches of life.
So, away with the Copelands & Hagins of the world! May their tribe decrease!
Then, I made the mistake of looking at other things on Proverbs 10:22 that were on the internet, including Matthew Henry and Charles Bridges. Now, I respect the commenting of these two men, but I felt that each fell a little short of bluntly saying "When the entire Bible is taken into consideration, wealth does not indicate God's blessing & God's blessing does not indicate wealth." Now maybe they said as much in their quaint styles, but I missed it in my stroked condition. If they actually agree with the statement in quotes, they have my apologies for my inexcusable "pot-shotting."
Certainly, on the basis of Luke 16:11, we can dismiss the notion that material wealth is the "true blessing" rather than the "unrighteous mammon" it is called. But I don't even believe that the book of Proverbs, itself, is holding out Proverbs 10:22 as its monolithic teaching on riches or being rich. The same book also says:
How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
The Bible, considered as a whole, and even the Book of Proverbs, rightly understood, holds out the superiority of wisdom over wealth. Between the two, wisdom is the true blessing; wisdom, understanding, prudence, insight, and discernment, the true riches of life.
So, away with the Copelands & Hagins of the world! May their tribe decrease!
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