The Wise Rich Man

[Proverbs 22:1-16]

As the new year begins, I have been reading and meditating on the book of Genesis during each morning prayer. Personally, as I reflect on Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I am reminded of the blessings God bestowed upon them. I confess that our God is a God who delights in blessing, and He is a faithful God who keeps His promises. Even though Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not perfect and were at times unfaithful before God, I see that God fulfilled His promises to bless them with faithfulness.

The covenant-keeping God promised Abraham, “I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great” (Genesis 12:2), and true to His word, God blessed him in every way (24:1). The God of Abraham also gave Isaac, Abraham’s son, a blessing: “I will be with you and bless you, and I will give all these lands to you and your descendants...” (26:3; see also v. 24). Eventually, God blessed Isaac so that he became “great and prosperous and became very wealthy” (Genesis 26:13).

What about Jacob, Abraham’s grandson and Isaac’s son? He received his father Isaac’s blessing (28:1, 4) and worked for 20 years in his uncle Laban’s house. Ultimately, God blessed him, making him “very prosperous” (30:43). So, Jacob prayed, “I am not worthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. When I crossed this Jordan, I had only my staff, but now I have become two camps” (32:10). As I meditate on how God faithfully fulfilled His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I was reminded of 2 Timothy 2:13: "If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself" (NIV). Thus, while reflecting on the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I also meditated on the promise God made to Jacob in Genesis 28:15: “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (NIV). As I recalled the promises God has made to me, I was reassured and reaffirmed in my faith that the faithful God of the covenant will fulfill all of His promises.

So, I sang hymn 28 “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” praising God:
(Verse 1)
"Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise."

Friends, Proverbs 10:22 tells us: “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it” (NIV). This means that true wealth comes from God’s blessing, not merely from human effort. Today, meditating on Proverbs 22:1-16, under the title “The Wise Rich Man,” I want to reflect on six qualities of a wise rich man and receive the lessons God has for us.

First, the wise rich man makes the right choices.

Look at today's text, Proverbs 22:1: "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold." The right choice is to “choose a good name over great riches” and “favor over silver and gold.” Have you chosen great wealth, or have you chosen a good name? Here, “a good name” refers to “a good reputation,” and when I think of this term, I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 7:1: "A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth." I didn’t just read the first half of Ecclesiastes 7:1, but the whole verse, because I believe there is a connection between “a good name” and “the day of death.” That connection is that, in the end, our name will be evaluated on the day we die. In other words, when people remember our name on the day we die, they will evaluate our lives, and our reputation will be formed. Whether that reputation is good or bad depends on how we live before God and people while we are alive.

In today's text, Proverbs 22:1, the writer of Proverbs, King Solomon, tells us to “choose a good name over great riches.” Here, “a good name” refers to the honorable reputation that comes from a good character (Walvoord). King Solomon says that this good name is better than great riches. Therefore, he is advising us to choose a good name over wealth. So, do you and I believe that a good name is better than great riches, or do we still believe that wealth is more important than a good name?

Let me ask you to think about this. If you believe that wealth is more important than a good name and have worked hard to accumulate wealth, but, in the process, have gained a bad reputation for your character, how would your funeral be remembered? It would not be a beautiful one. But, if we prioritize our good name, work diligently, and at the same time extend grace and kindness to others while accumulating wealth, how do you think people will remember us? That is why King Solomon, in the second part of Proverbs 22:1, says, "choose favor (grace) over silver and gold." In other words, we are to choose favor over wealth, that is, kindness, goodwill, and grace. To explain it more specifically, we are being urged to choose helping others and showing kindness toward them over accumulating wealth for ourselves.

If God grants us wisdom to make this right choice and live that way, we will be able to obtain a good name on the day of our death. In other words, people’s opinions of us will be good. Moreover, through our death, the glory of God will be revealed, and the mourners will see the beauty of God's work in our life.

Dear friends, let us remember: it is of no use to have great wealth if we do not have a good name. In fact, that wealth can ruin our reputation (Walvoord). Therefore, let us choose a good name over great riches, as the Bible instructs. This is the right choice of the wise wealthy person.

Second, the wise wealthy person has the right knowledge.

The correct knowledge, as mentioned in today's passage, Proverbs 22:2, is the fact that God created both the poor and the rich. Look at verse 2: "The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all." Friends, the foolish rich who choose wealth over honor and grace are unaware that God has created both the "poor and the rich," and in their ignorance, they fail to show grace to the poor, instead becoming proud before them. In their pride, these foolish rich people, when governing the poor whom God has created (v. 7), are quick to display their arrogance. They boast about themselves (Jeremiah 9:23) and love to reveal their own glory. They treat the poor with arrogance and harsh words (Psalm 31:18). They even mock them (Psalm 119:51). They oppress the poor terribly (Proverbs 10:2). In this way, the foolish rich do not love the poor or help the needy (Ezekiel 16:49). On the contrary, they oppress them.

Proverbs 14:31 says: "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors God." The Bible says that the foolish rich who oppress the poor are despising the Creator God who made those poor people. However, those who have mercy on the needy honor the Lord. These are the wise rich. The reason is that the wise rich, unlike the foolish ones, know that the Creator God made not only the rich but also the poor. Because of this, they love their neighbors, following the command of Jesus, and particularly care for the poor, showing them compassion (Proverbs 19:17), and they help and support them (Proverbs 28:27).

I am reminded of James 1:27: "Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." To God, pure and undefiled religion is taking care of orphans and widows in their affliction. The wise rich understand this truth, and because of it, they obey this command. They care for orphans and widows in their suffering. They also help and assist the poor and needy. Those who do this, as Proverbs 22:12 says, are protected by God. In other words, God protects those who understand and practice the truth that He has made both the poor and the rich.

Third, the wise rich have the right attitude.

The correct attitude, as seen in today’s passage, can be considered in three ways:
(1) The correct attitude of the wise rich person is humility and the fear of God.

Look at Proverbs 22:4: "The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life."
Friends, the foolish rich person is arrogant (v. 10). Therefore, he is never free from disputes, fights, and insults (v. 10). But the wise rich person is never arrogant (v. 10). Rather, he is humble and fears God (v. 4).
However, in Proverbs 22:7, the Bible says that the rich person rules over the poor. Even so, the wise rich person governs the poor with a humble attitude. This is because he fears God (v. 4). Although the wise rich person governs the poor, he knows that the Lord in heaven created both the poor and the rich (v. 2) and that the Lord governs both him and the poor. Therefore, he governs the poor with humility.

This is the important principle and ethics seen in the relationship between masters and servants in the New Testament, especially in Ephesians and Colossians. Look at Ephesians 6:9: "And ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening, knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him."
Look at Colossians 4:1: "Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven."
The important principle is that masters should remember that their Master is in heaven, and the key ethical teaching is that masters should not threaten their servants, but rather treat them with justice and fairness. The wise rich person keeps this important biblical principle and ethics, and by doing so, gives glory to God.

Friends, do you know how God rewards the humble and God-fearing wise rich person? The reward is "riches, honor, and life" (Proverbs 22:4).

(2) Another correct attitude of the wise rich person is diligence.

Look at Proverbs 22:13: "The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets." This is the incorrect attitude of the foolish rich person. His mistake is laziness. That is, the foolish rich person is lazy. He is so lazy that he makes an excuse, saying that there is a lion outside and if he goes out into the street, he will be torn apart and killed (MacArthur). In other words, the lazy person is not truly afraid of the lion but simply does not want to go out to work, and so he makes up ridiculous excuses (MacDonald). We can see this idea more clearly in Proverbs 26:13: "The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets."
Why would a lion, the king of the jungle, wander through the middle of a city full of people? Perhaps the lazy person heard the sound of a cat outside and confused it with a lion, using that as an excuse to avoid going outside to work.
A lazy person, when it’s time to do something, is quick to find an excuse, and they make up reasons to avoid work. In this way, the foolish rich person is lazy, preferring to plot tricks with his mind rather than working hard with his hands. The Bible in Ecclesiastes 4:5 says, "The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh." This means that the fool, being lazy, earns nothing and only walks the path of destruction (Park Yun-seon).
On the contrary, the wise rich person is never lazy. Rather, he is diligent. He does not make excuses or avoid work, like the foolish rich person. His work philosophy is: "If any would not work, neither should he eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Therefore, the wise rich person works diligently, and his heart will be filled with abundance (Proverbs 13:4).

(3) The wise rich person acts righteously.

The idea of "acting righteously" can be understood in four ways...

(1) A Wise Rich Man Avoids Disaster

Look at Proverbs 22:3: “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” Just because we say we have faith, it does not mean that we must always confront danger head-on when we face a perilous situation. In other words, when we encounter danger, we must know when to seek refuge. For example, when King Saul, jealous of David, sought to kill him, David did not face Saul courageously like he did with Goliath. Instead, he fled and hid from Saul, who wanted to kill him. The verse in Proverbs 22:3 says that the wise person hides when they see disaster, and "hiding" here refers to “acting wisely so that one does not sacrifice their life or endure meaningless suffering without purpose in the Lord” (Park Yoon-seon). However, sometimes when we watch Christian news, we might feel that some Christians act recklessly. For example, is it wise to go to a country where terrorism is frequent and, while claiming to be ready for martyrdom, engage in reckless missionary activities, resulting in failure to properly evangelize and suffering? Isn’t that a legitimate question?

Dr. Park Yoon-seon explains that this passage teaches three things. One of them is that we should not undertake dangerous activities recklessly, even if our intention is to serve the Lord, without waiting for God’s guidance or the appropriate time. Another lesson is that we should not cause unnecessary persecution by provoking opposition from others while trying to spread the gospel. So, even though many Christians say they love the Lord and are working hard for Him, how many are unknowingly provoking anti-Christian sentiments?

We need to distinguish between “foolhardy courage” and true “bravery.” Also, we must discern the difference between “blind obedience” and “wise submission.” Why? Because blind obedience and foolish bravery are not wise actions for Christians. A wise person may need to take refuge when facing danger, but even in that situation, they do not forget their mission or abandon it. This is what a wise rich man does. He does not forget his mission given by God and, even when seeking refuge, continues to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(2) The Wise Rich Man’s Correct Behavior Keeps Him Away from the Path of the Wicked and Protects His Soul

Look at Proverbs 22:5: “Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will stay far from them.” The “way of the perverse” refers to the crooked path of those who are morally twisted (Park Yoon-seon). This crookedness of heart results in a crooked life. The Bible tells us that the way of the wicked is filled with thorns and snares. Therefore, to avoid being caught by these dangers, we must stay far away from that path. For instance, Proverbs 22:14 warns about the “deep pit of the adulteress.” A wise rich man will not fall into this pit because he avoids the wicked path of the adulteress (v. 5). By avoiding the path of the wicked, he protects his soul because he desires purity in his heart (v. 11). However, the foolish rich man does not avoid the adulteress’ path but rather walks toward her house. Look at Proverbs 7:7-8: “I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house.”

God commands us in Proverbs 4:14-15: “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.” The wise person remembers and follows this command, keeping themselves far from the wicked path. The foolish person, however, ignores God’s command and walks in the way of evil.

The foolish young man in Proverbs 7 was one such example. As he passed the corner of the adulteress’ street (v. 8), he should have avoided that path and turned away (4:15). But he did not. Instead, he walked toward her house, doing so in the evening, at twilight, and in the dark of night (7:9). Why did he go to her house at night? He did not want anyone to see him. In other words, the foolish young man went secretly, under the cover of darkness, to visit the prostitute (Park Yoon-seon).

(3) The Wise Rich Man’s Correct Behavior Does Not Exploit the Poor for Personal Gain

Look at Proverbs 22:16: “Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.” The foolish rich man does not hesitate to oppress the poor to benefit himself. Driven by greed, he exploits the poor, even dragging them to court (James 2:6). He may even bribe corrupt judges to make unfair judgments, depriving the poor of their rights (Isaiah 10:2). Furthermore, the foolish rich man will give gifts, often bribes, to richer men, hoping for greater wealth in return (Proverbs 22:16). But the foolish rich man is unaware that by oppressing the poor for his own gain, he is harming not only himself but also his entire family. Proverbs 15:27 says: “Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.” Another truth the foolish rich man ignores is Proverbs 28:8: “Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.” Ultimately, the foolish rich man’s wealth is reserved for those who are compassionate toward the poor.

The Bible in Proverbs 14:31 states that oppressing the poor is despising God, who created them. So, what is the result? Proverbs 22:8 says: “Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.” The foolish rich man reaps disaster because of his unjust actions. While he seeks his own benefit, the wise rich man never exploits the poor. Instead, he understands their plight (Proverbs 29:7) and shows them mercy (Psalm 72:13). He helps, assists, and cares for them. The wise rich man saves the poor from the hands of the wicked (Psalm 82:4). Why does he act this way? Because he loves the poor with the love of God. Therefore, he seeks the good of the poor, not his own self-interest (1 Corinthians 13:5: "Love does not seek its own").

(4) The Wise Rich Man’s Correct Behavior Is to Give Bread to the Poor

Look at Proverbs 22:9: “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.” The wise rich man is described as having “a bountiful eye,” which can be translated as “a generous person.” In Hebrew, it refers to someone with “a kind eye” or “a merciful eye.” The reason that such a merciful person is blessed is that he shares his bread with the poor. In other words, the wise rich man sees the poor, weak, and powerless through God’s merciful eyes, feeling compassion for them and sharing his food with them. In Deuteronomy 15:10, God says: “You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.” The wise rich man follows this command, giving generously to the poor without a grudging heart. 1 Timothy 6:18 says: “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” We must not forget to do good and share with one another (Hebrews 13:16).

Fifth, the wise rich person has righteous lips.

Look at Proverbs 22:11: "He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend." Here, "righteous lips" refers to lips that are full of virtue. In other words, the person who desires purity of heart speaks with virtuous lips. The "lips of grace" here are the same as "gracious lips," meaning the words that come from their mouth are filled with grace. So, who is this person who "desires purity of heart"? According to the second part of Proverbs 22:11, where it says "the king will be his friend," it seems that this person is a loyal servant of the king. In other words, a loyal servant is someone who desires purity of heart and speaks virtuous words to the king. But what does it mean for a loyal servant to speak virtuous words to the king he serves? Psalm 15:2 says that those who dwell in the Lord's tabernacle "who walk with integrity, practice righteousness, and speak the truth in their heart." Therefore, a loyal servant speaks the truth to the king even when the king is wrong. He speaks honestly to the king in order to correct the king’s mistakes. This is why Ephesians 4:15 tells us: "We are to speak the truth in love." But what about a treacherous servant? He never speaks the truth in his heart. He will not speak honestly to the king when the king is wrong. Instead, he will flatter the king. Flattering words are described in Proverbs 22:12 as "the words of the unfaithful." These are words that, unlike they appear, are dangerous. These words do not correct the king. In other words, flattery is never a word that builds virtue.

Brothers and sisters, the wise rich person speaks words that build up. The words that come from his mouth are gracious words that build people up. Look at Ecclesiastes 10:12: "The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him." The Bible says the words of a wise person are gracious. The words that come from our mouths should also be gracious. God commands us in Ephesians 4:29: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." May we be people who obey this command and speak words that edify.

Finally, sixth, the wise rich person raises his children properly.

How does the wise rich person raise his children properly? Of course, he raises his children properly through the right choices, knowledge, attitude, actions, and words. But in today’s passage, Proverbs 22:6 and 15, we can find two proper ways of raising children. The two proper ways are: teaching children the way they should go (v. 6) and disciplining them (v. 15).

(1) First, let's consider the first method of child-rearing.

Look at today's main text, Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." When I reflect on this verse in my own life, I cannot help but ask myself whether I am truly teaching my three children the right path they should walk. To raise our children well, we must first remember that our children belong to God. We must teach them according to God’s Word. As I have meditated on Proverbs 22:6, I have often encouraged the parents in our church to teach their children three essential things: (1) a correct value system (Right Value), (2) a clear sense of purpose (Clear Purpose), and (3) an eternal view of life (Eternal View of Life). The most important thing is that we must teach our children the Word of God. We must teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must teach them the "good way" that they should walk (1 Kings 8:36; 2 Chronicles 6:27). In the process, as parents, we must help our children discover and develop the talents that God has given them. We must be stepping stones for them, not stumbling blocks. Just as flowers bloom in their time, we must have faith and hope that in God’s perfect time, He will use our children for His glory.

(2) Another method of child-rearing is written in today’s text, Proverbs 22:15:

"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction will drive it far from him." In raising our children, we must train them to be wise children of God. Look at Proverbs 17:2: "A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers." Here, King Solomon contrasts a wise servant with a disgraceful son. One is a "servant" and the other is a "son." Yet, Solomon says that the servant, though not a son, will inherit just as a son would. How is this possible? How can a servant, who is not a son, share in the inheritance like a son? It is because the servant is wise. When we think of this wise servant, we must also think of Proverbs 16:20, which explains wisdom: "He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he." What does this mean? Wisdom is about carefully heeding God's Word. Proverbs 19:20 says, "Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days." By paying attention to God’s Word and receiving His counsel and correction, we can become wise people.

The Bible tells us that wise people obtain good things (Proverbs 17:2). That "good" is the inheritance that a wise servant receives, just as a son would. However, the disgraceful son is the "grief" of his father and the "sorrow" of his mother, as Proverbs 17:25 says: "A foolish son is grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him." What does this mean? A foolish son, by doing disgraceful things, becomes a source of grief for his father and sorrow for his mother. And in Proverbs 17:21, the Bible says that parents who have foolish children will be filled with sorrow, and a father who has a foolish child will have no joy. Foolish children are not only dull and ignorant but also lack spiritual insight and sensitivity, which causes them to live according to their own will, doing disgraceful things. Therefore, they become a source of worry and pain for their parents.

Dear brothers and sisters, Proverbs 10:22 says, "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it" (Modern Bible translation). This means that true wealth comes from the blessing of God, not just through hard work. The wise, wealthy person—one who has received God’s blessing—acts wisely in six ways, as we have learned. The wise wealthy person makes the right choices, has the right knowledge, adopts the right attitude, and takes the right actions. Additionally, the wise wealthy person speaks with integrity and raises their children correctly. My hope is that we may all be built up as wise, godly people in God’s eyes.