Parenting by the Book
STUDY 339
Text: Proverbs 28
23 December 2007
Dear Parents,
THE POOR AND THE RICH
There will always be the poor and the rich! They will always exist side by side. No matter how much the world tries to deal with the problem of poverty, it will never go away completely!
MORE THAN JUST THE PROBLEM OF THE POOR AND THE RICH
We would be very shallow if we merely observe the difference between the poor and the rich! The following text helps us to go beyond the immediate differences between “the haves” and “the have-nots”.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.Proverbs 28:6
1. The poor person who has integrity
a) Integrity involves the following:-
i) Belief in principles (such as the law of God).
ii) Holding on to these principles consistently.
b) The temptation to give up principles
i) There will always be a temptation to yield principles of faith.
ii) The temptation can be very alluring… such as getting out of poverty into wealth.
c) The Biblical conclusion
i) It is better to continue to remain poor and be true to one’s principles.
ii) It is better in the sight of God.
iii) One’s conscience is pleased when integrity is upheld.
2. The perverse person
a) He may be “rich”.
b) He may however have been perverse in the way he obtained his wealth.
c) He may have all the comforts of life, but he is not better than the poor who walks in his integrity!
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie