The Rich and the Righteous

[Proverbs 18:10-11]

This Monday, I read a news article online titled, “Men in their 40s in South Korea are not safe from prostate enlargement.” The main point of the article was that the average prostate size of Korean men has increased by 23.5% compared to five years ago. For men in their 40s, the average prostate size was 16.7 grams five years ago, which was considered within a safe zone regarding prostate enlargement, but by 2011, it increased to 20.9 grams, reaching a level at which benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is diagnosed. According to a study, a typical Western-style diet—meaning low intake of fruits and vegetables and high intake of animal fats—is reported to increase the risk of BPH.

The reason I became interested in this article is that I am now in my mid-40s, and seeing the headline “Men in their 40s in South Korea are not safe from prostate enlargement” naturally caught my attention. And indeed, as the article suggests, I am not in a safe zone now. Therefore, this article applies to me. How about you? Is your health in a safe zone? Are your children and grandchildren in a safe zone? How about your spiritual life? Are you truly in a spiritual safety zone, or are you in a danger zone?

Psalm 12:5 says:

“Because the oppression of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy,
now I will arise,” says the Lord;
“I will set him in the safety for which he longs.”

This is truly a comforting promise from God. How great is the strength and comfort to know that God will rise up and place us in the safe place we desire! Friends, our true safety zone is Jesus Christ. Although we live in this sinful world that is a danger zone, our safety zone is Jesus Christ. We must always run to Him and take refuge in Him. Only the Lord will safely protect you and me.

Looking at today’s passage in Proverbs 18:10-11, the Bible says:

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
they imagine it a high wall.”

Focusing on this passage, under the title “The Rich and the Righteous,” I want to think about one or two types of people and receive the lessons God gives to you and me.

The first type of person is the rich who rely on their wealth.

Look at Proverbs 18:11:

“The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
they imagine it a high wall.”

King Solomon says the rich consider their wealth as a fortified city. This means the rich regard their wealth as a strong fortress. In other words, the rich rely on their possessions. Solomon also says that the rich regard their wealth as a high wall, meaning the rich believe their wealth is the strongest means of protecting themselves.

Earlier, King Solomon said in Proverbs 10:15 (first half):

“The wealth of the rich is their fortified city.”

Then in the second half of verse 16, he said:

“The income of the wicked leads to sin.”

That is, the income of the wicked actually becomes punishment for them because God will reject the desires of the wicked (v. 3). Why does God reject the desires of the wicked? Because the income of the wicked is useless and unjust wealth (v. 2). What is unjust wealth? It is wealth obtained wrongfully within greed (see also 1:19; 28:16), especially through theft, deceit, or fraud (Walvoord). Solomon says the rich who live relying on such unjust wealth make their possessions their strongest means of protection.

What do you think about the rich who live relying on (unjust) wealth?

In the book “Clean Rich” written by Pastor Kim Dong-ho, it says:
“Money is not a blessing but a gift. Everyone who believes in Jesus receives blessings, but not everyone receives gifts. And gifts are given to be used for the Lord,”
“True wealth lies not in possessions but in sharing,”
“Become rich in a way that God can trust and entrust to you.” (Internet)

Friends, even if you become rich, shouldn’t you become “rich in a way that God can trust and entrust to you”?

Proverbs 11:28 says:
“He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.”

The Bible clearly says that whoever trusts in their riches rather than God will perish. But the righteous who are connected to the Lord like green leaves to a tree will prosper. In other words, the righteous who live trusting only in God will bear abundant fruit. We must never become those who rely on wealth. Rather, we must be those who trust in God.

The second and final type of person is the righteous who trust in God.

Look at Proverbs 18:10:
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run into it and are safe.”

King Solomon contrasts in Proverbs 18:10-11 the rich who trust in their wealth and the righteous who trust in God. He uses the phrase “strong tower” in verse 10 for God, and “fortified city” in verse 11 for wealth. The rich regard their wealth as a fortified city, but in contrast, the righteous regard the name of God as a strong tower.

For the righteous to regard “the name of the Lord” as a strong tower means they make trusting God their supreme means of protection. Conversely, the rich regard their wealth as their supreme means of protection, so they live relying on it.

The purpose of Solomon, the author of Proverbs, in contrasting the righteous who trust God and the rich who trust wealth, is to teach both the people of Israel and us that only the righteous should live by trusting God in faith (see Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:38; Galatians 3:11). This is the wisdom of the righteous and the life that fears God, which Solomon also teaches us. He also warns us not to become foolish rich men who trust in wealth.

King Solomon says in Proverbs 29:25:
“The fear of man brings a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

What does this mean? It means that if we fear people instead of fearing God, we are not safe. Instead, we must not fear people but fear God and trust Him. Then Solomon says we will be safe.

Look at Exodus 15:1-3:

“Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
‘I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.’”

When the Israelites escaped from Egypt and came to the Red Sea, they saw Pharaoh and his army chasing them (Exodus 14:10). They were greatly afraid and complained against Moses (vv. 11-12). But Moses did not fear Pharaoh or his army. Rather, he trusted God, looked to Him, and cried out to Him (v. 16). What was the result? Pharaoh and his army were destroyed in the Red Sea, and Moses and the Israelites were saved. Therefore, Moses and the Israelites sang a song of praise to God, beginning just as we read in Exodus 15:1-3:
“I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.
The Lord is my strength...”

Friends, those who do not fear people but fear God and trust in Him look to God even in the most anxious and fearful situations. And they cry out to God. Because they believe that God will save them (assurance of salvation), they obey God’s word and move forward.

They are able to obey and move forward in faith because they enjoy safety in the Lord. When they do so, they experience the saving power of God in whom they have fully trusted. They enjoy the grace of answered prayer from God. Therefore, they praise God.

The Bible says in Psalm 27:5:
“For in the day of trouble
He will hide me in His shelter;
He will conceal me under the cover of His tent;
He will lift me high upon a rock.”

The God of you and me is the God who protects us, hides us, and places us high upon a rock. Our God protects us and makes us safe. Therefore, we righteous people who believe in Jesus must fully trust in that God and run to His embrace when we are troubled, weary, or in danger (Prov. 18:10). We must run to God who is our strong tower and enjoy the safety He gives us.

To conclude this meditation: as time passes and we recognize our weakness, we Christians must trust God even more. You and I, who by God’s grace have received Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and have been declared righteous, must run to God who is our strong tower. The only one who gives us true safety is the Lord. The wealth of the rich can never give us true security.

Therefore, we must run to the cross of Jesus. We must run to Jesus Christ, who was crucified and died on the cross, lay down all our heavy burdens there, and trust only in Him. When we trust only in Him, He will protect and guard you and me. The Lord, who is our strong tower, will place us high upon a rock.