Proverbs 10:15-16 (ESV)
15 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
16 The wage of the righteous leads to life,
the gain of the wicked to sin.
Wealth brings both positive and negative considerations. The wealthy woman risks the temptation to put her trust in money. But in the end, financial security is only imaginary. On the day she dies, her riches won’t benefit her at all in the judgment. They will only provide additional means for evaluating whether she acted wisely with the abundance with which God blessed her. Poverty can cause great terror in a soul and potentially leave her in a state of utter panic. Do you waste money or fail to otherwise value it? Or is your hope tied to your bank account? Either extreme is foolish. Whether rich or poor, our quality of life is never contingent upon how much money we do or don’t have; instead, our joy in life is rooted in our relationship with the Lord. Those who are righteous manage their wealth in a way that honors God.