Proverbs 23:4 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Proverbs 23:4

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In a similar vein the Lord says, ‘Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.’ Why is that there? Well if a voice says to you, ‘Self-enrichment is within your grasp. Make friends of this or that influential person; it will be profitable for you.’ Do not listen to that. Listen rather to the exhortation of Scripture. Be very careful. Your own wisdom, the wisdom that tells you that material gain and material security is all that you need; that wisdom has to be set aside and replaced with the wisdom that comes from above. It is short sighted; it is open to deception from the enemy of souls; it plays into the hands of our fallen nature and gives it an easy answer, what it wants already. God’s wisdom involves putting to death our own wisdom and completely resetting the priorities of our lives.‘Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves as wings.’ And as you reach out for earthly riches, they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. In other words, you have to aim even higher than you thought to obtain them, and then higher still, and they have got you. You are drawn towards that standard of living.

Application

Satan can use even our newfound work ethic against us. As Christians we learn to work conscientiously and as a result there is often an improvement in our standard of living. The application of ourselves to our work and our ability to take responsibility is noticed by our employer and rewarded. As a result we find opportunities opening up to for promotion and salary increase, so that we have the possibility of taking out a bigger mortgage, and upgrading our standard of living. But stop, is this the Lord’s will? Is this going to put us into a position where we are subjected to temptations which we cannot handle? What example will this set to others? Will we be diverted from our priority to serve the Lord and to give him the best of our time? Will our minds be carried away with dreams of prosperity?

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Proverbs 23:4 Commentary and Bible Study