Proverbs 10:21 Commentary and Bible Study

A man may have little of this world’s goods, but if he has been taught by the Lord he has a treasure within him. He may not be able to give vast amount to charity, but seen from God’s point of view, the righteous are rich, while many who have large bank balances, homes full of luxuries, and the ability to buy whatever they fancy, are desperately poor. One will be able to take his riches with him in the world to come, the other will have everything taken away and be left destitute. The poor believer may console himself that God has given him the power to make many rich. In contrast to the laws of commerce in this world, what the righteous man gives to others via choice words, he does not lose himself; he may give and keep at the same time. Knowledge is his possession which cannot be taken from him; knowledge communicated to others is doubled not halved. Another difference between money and wisdom is that money that is owned and not spent is wasted and we might as well not have it, but in the kingdom of heaven there is no limit to how rich we may grow and we can make full use of all that God gives us. The fool however starves to death because he has insufficient even for his own needs. His understanding or his heart is withered and far from benefitting others, he speaks words that his hearers would rather they soon forget. It is a sad thing to die of starvation but it is more tragic to die of spiritual starvation.