Proverbs 15:27, Greedy Of Gain

October 3, Proverbs 15:27

Hab. 2:9-11; Acts 8:12-24 “Taking empties a life; giving fills it.”

Greedy Of Gain

This warning appeared at the beginning of Proverbs (1:19), and also near the end (28:16). The word greed and covetous are from the same word-root and bear the same wicked fruit! It is one of the most powerful temptations of which sinful hearts are capable, and also one of the most destructive morally and spiritually. Notice the sharp contrasts in our verse today, and learn to shun this evil plant and its wicked fruits (Isa. 5:8-10).

1. The Grasping Greedy Getter troubleth his own house! How? By:

a. His Miserly Treatment: Because money is his god he fumes over any expense. He grudges at having to provide even the basic comforts for himself or his family. He is ever ready to take but hates to give. “Greedy grabbers grudge gleaners.”

b. His Miserable Temperament: Miserliness leads inevitable to miserableness, and thus he troubles his own house. Remember Achor and Achan; it’s the same root! There is little peace there. He has few admirers and fewer who truly love him. He arouses disgust. His grasping, greedy, getting eventually turns away every one who knows him.

c. His Midas Touch: He dreams of quick gain and thinks he has that fabled golden touch, and so rushes into hazardous speculations and risky enterprises. When these fail, his house comes crashing down around his head and that of his family. Was not the Midas touch a curse after all? “Beware of the beginnings of covetousness, for you know not where it will end” (Manton).

2. The Honest Happy Hater: He that hateth gifts shall live. Here is the rare place where hate is laudable, and it is rare in more than one sense. This man hates gifts, that is, bribes. Gifts were important in the social life of the East, and often became the bait to lure the greedy. Gehazi fell into this trap and brought trouble on his house (2 Kg. 5:27). The greedy will not hesitate to take gifts, however shady! Jeremiah makes a sweeping charge, Everyone, from the least to the greatest is given to covetousness (greedy of gain), from the prophet even unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely (6:13; 8:10). The person, therefore, who hates gifts is a rare one indeed, but he shall live, because for him:

a. Goodness comes before wealth. He is not indifferent to the benefits of wealth, but it must come honestly. He rejects any amount of wealth offered to him unless it comes to him honourably. His integrity is not For Sale (Isa. 33:15-16).

b. Giving comes before taking or receiving. He believes the Lord’s Word: It is more blessed to give then to receive (Acts 20:35; 2 Cor. 9:6). He gives happily!

c. God comes before man. If he took a bribe, how should he then live with himself and before his God? It is more important for him to have the praise of God than the plums of men. “Thy money perish with thee,” said noble Peter to Simon.

Thought: “Avarice increases with the increasing pile of gold.”

Prayer: That I may prefer the riches of Christ above all.