Proverbs 10:13-15 – Storing Up Wisdom or Riches?
Solomon and his son illustrate verse 13 very well. Solomon speaks with such wisdom that the world hears and admires, but Rehoboam lacks this judgement and is punished by having the major portion of his kingdom taken away. The lack of wisdom, or rather the lack of a heart that seeks after wisdom, leads to terrible consequences. We can see it in our own lives and the lives of others when we look at the sinful choices we have made and the times we did things our way instead of God’s. The consequences are there, maybe in broken families, maybe in broken health, but it is there.
It is no wonder that the wisdom of some comes out in what they say. They have stored up so much of the things of God in their heart and mind, that it spills out. Is this true of us? Are our minds so full of thinking about God and His Word and our hearts so full of love for Him, that we can’t help but speak of Him to others? How can we fill our mind and hearts in this way? By reading God’s Word, by worshipping God, and by praying that He increase our desire for Him. In contrast to the wise man storing up wisdom, the fool lives just for the moment. What he thinks, what he feels comes immediately out in what he says and gets him into trouble.
As we look at verse 15 we see a lot of truth. The rich use their wealth to protect them from many hardships and to gain many advantages. The poor often seem destroyed by their very life of poverty. But too often the rich are trusting in themselves and what they have with no thought of their need for salvation. The poor are often the ones who believe in Jesus. But both rich and poor have temptations and need God’s grace to live rightly. The rich need to be poor in spirit, humble, and large in heart. The poor need to be rich in faith and content to possess the love of Christ.
Questions
- How can we store up wisdom?
- How should we treat the things we own?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks for the rich blessings God gives us in Christ.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.