A Family Legacy Up from Poverty

Proverbs 19:
1. Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

This is the second “better than” proverb that we have encountered. The first one was two days ago, Proverbs 17:1, and all those “better than” comments apply here also. But even with those explanations we still wonder to ourselves, “How can the person of integrity be poor when we read this in Proverbs 10:22?

“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”

Why isn’t the Lord blessing him? It is all a matter of timing. Do you remember the story of Joseph (Genesis 37) and how his brothers sold him into Egypt as a slave? What happened to him? Although he was a slave, because of his integrity he soon became the chief steward in his master’s household! Then, also because of his integrity, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Finally, still because of his integrity, he was released from prison and elevated to the second most powerful position in Egypt! Joseph is an example of the importance of integrity in the circumstances of poverty and how both of these proverbs are true. Integrity is a necessary character trait for overcoming poverty.

Job would be another example of this. Job was . . .

“. . . the greatest of all the men of the east.” (Job 1:3)

. . . yet he lost everything, including his health. The one thing Job didn’t lose, however, was his wife, who had this to say about him.

“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” (Job 2:9)

Now Job became very poor, yet even his wife recognized that he was a man of integrity. It seems that this is what frustrated her. She, like many people, concluded that Job’s integrity was worth nothing and she became like the second half of Proverbs 19:1. But that was not the end of the story. After Job’s suffering, which was according to God’s purposes, we read this.

“So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters . . . And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days.” (Job 42:12-13,15-17)

James, in his letter, draws our attention to Job’s life as an example to follow.

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (James 5:11)

Do you see how Proverbs 19:1 is not extolling the virtues of poverty, but rather the virtue of integrity, and how integrity is the path out of poverty because the Lord’s blesses it.

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6)

So even though you might find yourself in difficult financial circumstances at this time, don’t be discouraged. Through the faithful exercise of wisdom and integrity God can yet bless you with a Family Legacy, because He is full of pity and of tender mercy.

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)