Proverbs 11:26 Commentary and Bible Study

Solomon now gives us a particular example of the principle he has just explained. If a person has faith then, even as a man of business, he does not operate his business for himself alone but remembers that the eye of God is upon him in all his dealings. The evil spoken of here is the greed that tries to manipulate the market by artificially raising the prices in order to secure a better price in the future. To do this the seller holds back his goods even though he has plenty to sell in order to create a market shortage, resulting in the price being forced up. This ruthless strategy treats the poor as if they were only a means to an end: the enrichment of the merchant. This raising of prices is an act of deceit which steals from those who can least afford it. The fact that it may not be illegal is no excuse, for the believer is bound not just by the laws of trade but by the laws of charity which apply a stricter rule. It is God who causes the corn to grow in the field and waters it from heaven, and he does not do so in order that one man only should be enriched and the needy be faced with starvation of extortion. The proverb does not suggest that the merchant should give his goods away free, but that he should set a reasonable price on them. This self-restraint in business is approved by the Lord who weighs every decision that we make and all that we do. The same principle applies to many other aspects of life. Mankind is expert at inventing schemes which are just about legal, but which are counted as sharp practice. The Christian will not push things to the limit in this way, but will always add compassion and kindness to all that he does, for he relies so much on receiving mercy from the Lord.