From
the Pastor’s Heart……….
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Proverbs is such a wonderful and practical book of the Bible. Not
meaning that the other books of the Bible aren’t practical, but it’s
just that Proverbs is full of one-sentence truths and themes that often
change from verse to verse. I like that. Chapter 13 of Proverbs is a chapter that has several verses that I can
remember “bumping” into at different times in my life. The verse I
want to highlight is v.7 “One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.” (Revised Standard
Version) I remember reading this verse when my family and I were living in
Belarus as missionaries. |
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The country of Belarus was close to being a third world country in many
aspects. As for me and my family, we were considered wealthy just because we
were Americans. Since we were able to buy meat at the market each week, it was a
sign that we had some affluence. Although we were not rich compared to American
standards, the people of Belarus perceived us differently. When we had Western
visitors they would think we were sacrificing a lot to live in Belarus, while
our dear Belarusian visitors might think something different because we had a
computer, a car or some other “thing” that they didn’t have. When our
American friends would take pictures I often joked,
“OK kids, here comes another picture. Now look hungry!”
I really was joking but I was convicted when I read this verse here in
Proverbs, that I shouldn’t act as though we were poor. Joking aside.
We’ve been living back in America for five years now and I often think of
these verses. I don’t see many Christian folks that I know trying to look
richer than they really are. Sometimes we Christians act poorer than we are. We
may struggle some but my Belarusian friends would still call us wealthy. Again
the proverb, “One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends
to be poor, yet has great wealth.” What is the principle that is breached when
we act as if we are struggling financially or that we are pretending to have
more? I wish I could think of a better word, but I borrow from the MacArthur
Study Bible notes that use two descriptive words; “unpretentious” and
“honest”. God wants us to be unpretentious and honest in all our ways,
including actions and words
concerning our finances.
As Christians we are not to act as if we don’t have money, if, in fact, we
are doing just fine. We also have to
realize that it doesn’t matter if others think we are wealthy or poor. We
don’t know others’ financial portfolio, and so I believe there is often a
lot of guessing going on. You guess your neighbor’s income, and he guesses
yours, but the truth is, who really knows? You may be a business owner or a
farmer but nobody knows your overhead, the debt load that you are carrying, or
the payroll that must be met each week. I
wonder why we feel upset when someone thinks that we have more money than we
really do? Why? I’m not sure
what’s behind that thinking. Maybe you can respond with some thoughts. I’ve
pondered and asked others why we need to make sure that others don’t think we
have more money than we really do.
Maybe its just a Mennonite “thing”.
Either way, we are compelled, no matter what country or culture we live
in, not to pretend to be something we are not, neither richer nor poorer.
Your pastor, Tim