Proverbs 28a

 Proverbs is full of contrasts between the rich and the poor; but it is not as simple as that. In this chapter, the category of the ‘rich’ is nuanced with the adjectives of the ‘wicked’ and the ‘lawless’, leaving room for the ‘good rich’. 

28: 4-6. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

     but those who keep the law struggle against them.

The evil do not understand justice,

     but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.

Better to be poor and walk in integrity

     than to be crooked in one’s ways even though rich.

Why would anyone praise a wicked person? Well, one such someone is the famous Niccolo Machiavelli. In his many writings, and especially in his book of advice to new rulers, The Prince (1513), Machiavelli did just that. He argued that those who tried to rule with justice and according to moral principles would fail. Instead, Machiavelli advised princes to always hide what they really intend to do, to rule without mercy and against humanity and religion; and to preserve their control over the state at all costs. Seems like a lot of people have read his book and have gone on to practice what we now call machiavellianism. 

 Of course, others without morals, seeing a chance to enhance their position and perhaps line their pockets, become sycophants and toadies of such a person in power. Any sense of justice goes by the wayside, while those who understand the law struggle against the wicked in the land. 

 The conclusion: it is better to walk with integrity than to be crooked and rich. In the end, God has the last word.  

28: 11-13. The rich is wise in self-esteem,

     but an intelligent poor person sees through the pose.

When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory,

     but when the wicked prevail, people go into hiding.

No one who conceals transgressions will prosper,

      but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

 There are some lessons that poverty can teach and the rich seem never to learn. For example, there is humility. Think of a poor man who had wise discernment in matters of life. That’s right: It’s Jesus. The same Jesus who, 

“though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something

to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, and being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death–even death on a cross” (Philippians 2: 6-8). 

 This Jesus rejoiced to see a healthy community. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, he taught that we should celebrate when a sinner confesses and comes back into the family (Luke 15). He called the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, and the peacemakers ‘blessed’ (Matthew 5). And so should we.

 On the other side, the wicked rich think only of themselves, and seem to think too highly of themselves at that. Other people are barely on their radar except as useful idiots. The last thing that the wicked rich would do is to confess to making a mistake. Reflecting Machiavelli, they would rather hide the deed, pretend it isn’t true, then lie, evade, and give excuses. 

 Everyone sins; in that way we are all similar. Where we are different is in whether we will confess or not. Only the one who asks for forgiveness receives forgiveness. The one who claims not to have sinned is a fool (I John 1: 10). The one who will not confess faces a bleak future (James 5: 16). Yet the fool still cannot bring himself to confess. In the end, God has the last word.

28: 25-28. The greedy person stirs up strife,

     but whoever trusts in the LORD will be enriched.

Those who trust in their own wits are fools,

     but those who walk in wisdom come through safely.

Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing,

     but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse.

When the wicked prevail, people go into hiding,

     but when they perish, the righteous increase.

 The rich wicked ruler (the one who prevails) acts only to advance himself, and thus stirs up strife in society, and doesn’t care. Everything, be it dodgy business dealings, using government for his own purposes, or seeking court judgments---all of it is twisted in one direction: To further the interests of one person, the rich wicked ruler. 

 The whole thrust of the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes is toward Wisdom that comes only from God. Those who do not see with the eyes of God cannot see poverty, cannot see that peace takes a lot of work, cannot see what is good for the community may not be good for them individually, and cannot see which beliefs and behaviors follow Jesus and honor God. In the end, God has the last word.