Proverbs 22:2 Commentary and Bible Study

This proverb teaches us that those distinctions between human beings, which men take so seriously and by which they measure each other, are nothing to God. Riches and poverty are an example of opposite human states which man in his shallowness counts as deeply significant and makes the basis of human worth. There are many other such ways of looking at people, but all have to do with earthly distinctions which are only temporary and will not be reflected in Christ’s eternal kingdom. The much better way of evaluating human worth is to remember that before God we are all equal, for he sets no value on such things as riches or poverty, education or ignorance, authority or subservience, because to him these things are passing away. What really matters is the possession of eternal life, character, and integrity. How can we learn to see each other in this way and to rid our minds of distinctions which do not matter outside of this brief life? By taking account of what Solomon reminds of here – that rich and poor meet together. They meet together in creation, for before God created them they did not exist, and after he created them they owed all that they had to him. Nothing they possessed, whether health, beauty, strength, intelligence, wisdom, skill, or any aspect of natural character could be credited to a creature that once did not exist. They were designed and they were created by God and they played no part in the creation process. All that they have is the gift of God. They also meet in death, for death reduces all back to the same original level and renders all the achievements of this life to be nothing: ‘For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity’ (Ecclesiastes 3:19), and again, ‘Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish’ (Psalms 49:12).Any evaluation of man that does not take this into account is false. We therefore remember that in Christ’s kingdom the order of this world will be changed (Luke 16:25), and the wise man thinks according to that eternal future order and not this present temporary order. He does not take advantage of his present earthly circumstances, but thinks with integrity about what he really is before God.