Greediness vs Trust

For Monday, February 4, 2008
Proverbs 28:25

A greedy man stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

Note the contrast - greediness versus trusting in the Lord. The greedy man lacks trust. He does not trust God to provide, but more to the point, he does not trust God to give him everything he desires. Perhaps God does provide the necessities, but he wants more. He feels he is entitled to more. And he wants it now. He is impatient with the teaching that wealth should be accumulated by patient hard work and steady saving.

So what does he do? He acts rashly and foolishly. He goes after wild schemes. He resorts to unethical means to obtain his ends. He lies, he steals. He imposes on others. He mistrusts others, seeing his neighbor as a competitor or obstacles to his quest after more things and money. Thus, he stirs up strife.

But the one who trusts in the Lord to provide what he needs and what is good for him so as to be happy and content, such a person will be enriched. He will be patient and content in his labor, thus over time enriching himself financially. He will win friends since he is free to think of their welfare and not be competing against them. He will receive the blessing of the Lord who shows favor to those who glorify him by trusting in him.