Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
One meaning of this verse is: “A rich man, when he fears any evil, can remove it with money; the poor, when he is threatened, cannot pay, so he runs away.” The poor man cannot stand and defend himself or buy himself off. The moment he hears rebuke, having no resources, he attempts to make good his escape. A second interpretation is that it shows the relative benefits of riches and poverty.
There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. This is a type of the poor-rich man. Jesus says: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. No amount of riches can buy poverty of spirit! Is not Christ Himself the Highest example of this truth? He was rich; He became poor, that we might be rich (2 Cor. 8:9)!
Here is another interpretation of this verse. It doesn’t say these persons are pretending. It may have a purely spiritual meaning. “This understanding of the verse lends itself to a Christian interpretation” (Maclaren). The Bible distinguishes between outer and inner reality, between the material and the spiritual. The conditions of poverty and wealth are not moral issues, but may indicate spiritual differences. Those who are rich in goods may be poverty-stricken in soul. There is that makes himself rich, yet has nothing. This is the rich-poor man. The Lord illustrates this vital distinction. In Luke 12 we have a smug man’s plans for his future, and a Sovereign God’s determination about his failure. He’s a fool in a fog. We considered this fool before, but he’s worth another look.
There are two valid ways of understanding this proverb. It may be interpreted either literally or as having a spiritual application. What is true poverty or riches is not always evident to the eye. Augustine said, “Earthly riches are full of poverty.” Old William Secker put it thus, “While riches are they are not!”
Today’s verses encapsulate the stark contrast between how the righteous and the wicked act and live. Not one can call back a lost moment, much less a lost life! We would do well to heed this word of advice from an old sage, “Live so in time as thou would wish to live in eternity.” How are you living your life? Life in itself is neither good nor evil. It is man, sinner or saved, who makes it so.
This text proves true both from a temporal and a spiritual standpoint. Both parties have strong desires, but how differently they go about to fulfill them!
13:2-3 (12:14) is a familiar theme in Proverbs, but will we ever get the message that what we say can do as much harm as what we do? Let us follow the adage: “Look before you leap” with: “Think before you speak.” We get back what we deserve. “Keep a strong bridle on the tongue and a strong hand on the bridle.” In proportion as we bridle the little member the peace of God will rule the heart.
This verse recalls the opening chapter of Proverbs. A wise son heareth his father’s instruction, but a scorner heareth not rebuke. Instruction includes, if necessary, discipline and correction. The message here is clear. Are you a teachable son? Will you submit to wise and loving parental discipline? Teachable sons are wise and profit thereby, but sons who scorn rebuke lose everything.
But the substance of the diligent (sharp, decisive) man is precious. His substance is what is of worth, or enough to satisfy. This man is the opposite of the slothful. He enjoys the fruits of his efforts. He gets a rich return, but this means more than just money! His substance may not be great in the eyes of some, but to him it is precious. It is worth its weight in gold! Most precious of all, it comes to him with the blessing of God. There is a general principle that labour enhances the relative value of a man’s possessions. The opposite is also true, “What costs nothing is worth nothing! It is only a bag of moonshine.” Consider these two reasons why his substance is precious to the diligent.
The slothful man roasts not that which he took in hunting. Roast occurs only here in the Hebrew. This has led some to suggest other meanings hike start or set out. Aramaic and Arabic roots suggest scorch. Of the three Hebrew young men, in the fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar, it was observed, there was not an hair of their head singed (Dan. 3:27). Jewish tradition has roast, and so our KJV.