December 29

Some Biblical concepts are difficult to grasp at first reading. Our inability in understanding springs at times from our changing value system. Ideas that were absolutes in the day when the scripture was penned have evolved until in our day they are subject to ‘situational ethics.’

Besides that, there is the reality that modern life has altered some very basic facts of life, for example, our society anticipates that everyone shall have equal opportunity to acquire the things that make life worthwhile. The precept in the days of scripture writing was that each man fended for himself as best he could.

Furthering that concept, Proverbs 19:22 says, “The desire of a man is his kindness and a poor man is better than a liar.” At first contemplation this is a confusing statement indeed. What has a man’s kindness to do with his integrity in being truthful? How can the tenderness a man feels toward those he loves be equated in any stretch of the imagination to his honesty?

The point being conveyed is that there is joy to an individual in being kind to those he loves and in achieving success, but the delight of those human expressions of bliss are overshadowed to an immeasurable degree in God’s eyes as well as in the man’s own eyes if he is a liar. A poor man of integrity is esteemed above a wealthy man whose gain is gotten by subterfuge.