Some proverbs expose the relative value of things, for example, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool (Proverbs 19:1).” Some directly exhort, as in, “Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them (Proverbs 24:1).”
Yet other proverbs just report how things are, with the implicit message: “Don’t be surprised.” So don’t be surprised that people love any man -- or pretend to -- if only he be rich. College Presidents will befriend and visit him in his old age. Relatives will always remember his birthday. Politicians love the rich. So do inventors who are looking for “angels” to invest in their new enterprises.
On the other hand, men’s love of one another is so weak that if someone falls into poverty, whether through business failure or illness, even old friends find reasons not to contact him. Who wants to hear tales of woe? Who wants to see needs he should help alleviate? Not many!
Even in the apostolic church, wealth got attention. James, the brother of the Lord delivered this rebuke (James 2:1-4):
“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ while you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there,’ or, ‘Sit down at my feet,’ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”
And the Apostle Paul criticized the rich in the church at Corinth for eating feasts at the Lord’s Supper, shaming the poor for their humble food (I Corinthians 11:22).
Solomon, however, in this proverb is neither evaluating nor exhorting, he is just reporting what believers need to know. If we do not know how our sinful and often heartless world behaves towards wealth and poverty, how can we be wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16)? This proverb should not make us cynical, but it should leave us ready and unsurprised when we encounter its truth. Rich people have lots of friends. The poor often lose the friends they have. That’s how it is. In the church of Jesus Christ, it should be different, where the rich remember that Jesus became poor for their sakes, and the poor know that they have a rich inheritance in Christ, so we all treat one another with friendship and love.
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Dr. Bill Edgar, former chair of the Geneva College Board of Trustees, former Geneva College President and longtime pastor in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA)
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Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Jan 2, 2019
Faithful Doubt: Habakkuk, written by pastor Travis Scott, explores the short prophetic book of Habakkuk, in a practical and meaningful way through the lens of a doubter. Travis approaches the passage of scripture from an honest and humble perspective, recalling difficulties experienced as a husband, father, and pastor.
Dr. J. Ligon Duncan of Reformed Theological Seminary delivered the spring 2021 Commencement address at Geneva College on May 10, 2021. Here is an excerpt of that message, entitled, "Every Good Work," from 2 Timothy 3. This excerpt first appeared in the Summer 2021 edition of Geneva Magazine.
When the Bible teaches one thing and your “instincts,” as it were, disagree, whose wisdom do you trust, your own or God’s? Do we really need to be told not to trust in our own minds? Yes, because we want to trust ourselves, and because in our day putatively wise people constantly tell us that high self-esteem brings success.
When the Bible teaches one thing and your “instincts,” as it were, disagree, whose wisdom do you trust, your own or God’s? Do we really need to be told not to trust in our own minds? Yes, because we want to trust ourselves, and because in our day putatively wise people constantly tell us that high self-esteem brings success.
As busy as college students are, it can be profoundly beneficial for them to seek out and engage in a routine Bible study. Diving deeper into their faith, exploring what the world’s challenges mean to them, and creating a Christian-based path forward can give any college student the direction he or she needs to achieve their best life. Still, it’s not always easy to make that decision—instead of a night with friends or yet another study session for a high-level math class, go to Bible study instead.
Handing our cares and worries over to God gives us peace which keeps us from falling into doubt, as stated in Philippians. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
What should someone with wealth do? Solomon writes, “Pay attention to it and know its condition.” He uses the example of sheep and goats. Wise parents blessed with wealth will teach their children how to work to maintain it. Wise children will accept the burdens of responsibility that go with family wealth, always remembering that riches do not last forever.
The Book of Proverbs has no use for the gullible, viewing them as willful fools. Even when everyone else can see a hateful, deceitful person for what he is, the gullible choose to believe gracious words.
At Easter, a good question to ask is, "How are people saved?" This should be a question that Christians can easily answer, and indeed most can. However, sometimes Christians are less knowledgeable about the doctrine of justification and its important distinctions than perhaps they should be.
How should leaders deal with difficult situations in difficult times? Geneva College’s John Gallo and Jenna Bieber provide a guidebook for leaders. "Lessons from Cain and Abel to Guide Leaders Through Turbulent Times" walks readers through the account of Cain and Abel to teach leaders the importance of justice, mercy, harmony and equality.
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