Proverbs 15:27 Commentary and Bible Study

The proverb presents two very different attitudes to earthly gain, one that brings disaster on a man and therefore takes away his security, and the other which leads to life. The first man puts material increase above everything else and is therefore willing to sacrifice other more important priorities if he sees an opportunity of advancing himself materially. Gone are consideration of the weak and needy, and fair play and honesty; he is not ready to lose out in a contract because there is something unethical about it and to wait for a more suitable opportunity which does not involve cutting corners. He does not worry about the message that his example gives to others, and therefore is not ready to hold back in case others are led to go against their consciences. Quite the opposite: he is ready to cut down others in his greed to gather more, and destroy his own character and integrity and the integrity of those around him who are forced to go along with them. He brings no wisdom to his family by teaching them what is of real value and what is only of passing value in life, and his greed may make him ill-tempered and an uncomfortable person to be in the same household with. Instead he trains his children in the ways of covetousness. He also troubles them because, for his sake, God will bring judgment upon him and all who belong with him. He expects that riches will act as a buffer from the miseries by which many are afflicted. He sees poverty and the hardship that it brings on many, and he wishes to be protected from it. But riches have their own misery; they leave the soul without food, and evaporate at the end of life just when the soul is at its greatest point of need. But there is another person who is scrupulous to avoid evil. When presented with a chance to increase his wealth, he considers carefully what are the choices involved. The Hebrew word is gift, but it can mean a bribe and certainly does here. He is being urged to accept a substantial gift in exchange for agreeing to lie about something, or turn a blind eye to something; to act as a false witness maybe, or even to assist in some crime. He must choose between abandoning his integrity and enriching himself. What is integrity worth? Well, if we are speaking of a man or woman who fears God, then it is worth a lot. God will not compromise his standards, and it is impossible that one who has set aside honesty and truthfulness can continue to have favour with him. If they are a believer then there has been a breach of fellowship with the Lord and it will not be restored until they repent. If they have only ever had a temporary faith, then they are now on the highway to apostasy and this compromise mark the turning point in their spiritual journey. The man who loves God sees dishonest gain and the reward that it brings as nothing compared to the approval of the Lord. Therefore he shuns the bribe with energy and rejects the one who offered it to him. The bribe will destroy any real gain he has made up till that point and therefore fills him with horror.