Provérbios 15

Provérbios 15

William MacDonald - A poor believer is better off than a wealthy worrywart. Wealth has trouble attached. The life of faith is the carefree life. Related Resources: See Numerous Quotes Related to Contentment Christian Contentment More discussion of Christian Contentment Contentment - Monergism Jeremiah Burroughs - The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment - Recommended Lawson - Trouble is the inseparable companion of great treasures, when they are not sanctified by prayer, and sweetened by the fear of the Lord. They are like water to a man in a dropsy, which doth not quench, but inflame his thirst. Anxiety and care, an ill conscience, and the uncertainty of present things, embitter the portion of the men of the world. Nothing can be really pleasant that wants the blessing of God. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches, not of one, but of many wicked§. The love that religion promotes, tends greatly to sweeten their outward enjoyments. Devotional from Ridley Pearson - May 14th “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.”—15:16 (ver. 6; 16:16). Interpretation.—The contrast seems to be not between wealth and poverty, to the advantage of the latter, but between wealth without the fear of the Lord (attended with turmoil), and contracted means accompanied with that peace and blessing which true religion brings. A “little” under those circumstances is certainly better than great “revenues.” Illustrations.—Perhaps no man ever possessed greater treasures than Solomon himself, yet his experience proved them to be but “vanity and vexation of spirit” after he had forsaken God (Eccles. 2:11). And no man was ever poorer than Job when deprived of all by a mysterious providence, yet how much, in reality, was his condition even then better than that of the apostate king, able as he still was to maintain his faith in God! Contrast Elisha, content with a “prophet’s reward,” “poor but making many rich,” with his ungodly servant, grasping great treasure, and acquiring trouble therewith. But observe, too, how Abraham and Joseph of Arimathea, both wealthy men, were “rich” also “toward God.” Also, how Judas Iscariot, a poor man (to whom thirty shekels was an object) was infinitely more poor in that he emptied his heart of Christ. Application.—That religion is the sweetener as well as the sanctifier of life, is a truth hard to be received. Yet this the inspired Word teaches everywhere. The heart, in its alienation from God, craves happiness without Him, and thinks to find it in money and what money procures. Now, “the love of money is the root of all evil,” but money itself is not. Let us admit its value, but insist that a religious use of it will immensely augment that value; so much so that “a little” under that condition is far better than a “treasure” without it. The possessor of wealth will allow that it involves great trouble and anxiety in its preservation, its investment, its expenditure. And doubtless there is a reward for the trouble if the money be husbanded and made use of religiously, so as to increase the happiness of its owner, by enabling him to do good. But if this be not so, then the burden of management is greater than the return of satisfaction, and it may become a source of intolerable disquietude, as e.g. when litigation or family feuds arise out of it. Let me strive, then, to make good use of what God gives me. If much, and trouble therewith, yet a conscientious use of it will tend to sweeten life, and may even improve instead of darkening my prospects for eternity. If little, yet, religiously handled, it will bring less trouble and fewer temptations with it. Whether much or little, the great truth to be accepted is that only through the fear of the Lord can money become a real blessing. (Counsels of the wise king or Proverbs of Solomon Applied to Daily Life) Proverbs 15:17 Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred. Pr 17:1, 21:19 Ps 133:1-3 Php 2:1 1Jn 4:16 Proverbs 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Note the strong contrasts demarcated by the colored font in these two related proverbs. Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred. (Proverbs 15:17) Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife. (Proverbs 17:1) Spiritual things outweigh material things, in this life and the life to come (see note on Pr 15:16). Longman adds that "A good relationship with people rather than things is preferred (Ed: over good food)." KJV Bible Commentary - The one who is rejoicing in the Lord can well understand the dear old saint who gave thanks for a bit of bread, an onion, a glass of water, and then joyfully thanked God for “all this and Jesus!” POSB - It is better to eat simply and meagerly at a table spread with love than to indulge in the luxuries of the rich in a house filled with hatred. All the world’s delicacies and luxuries cannot make a house a home or turn a bitter relationship into a tender, loving one. Allen Ross says this proverb "affirms that happy, loving relationships are more desirable than a great meal where there is hatred. Again the teaching concerns the negative side of wealth; all too often wealth replaces love in a family. The ideal is to have a loving family, friends, and great food; short of that, a humble meal with love is preferable." A preacher said, "It's better to have a hamburger at McDonalds with somone who loves you than to be entertained at the Waldorf by someone who hates you." Whedon - A fattened ox was, by the Hebrews, as by other ancient peoples, reckoned among the noblest of entertainments. It is mentioned among the provisions for the table of Solomon and of Nehemiah. In the New Testament, the marriage supper which the king made for his son consisted, in great part, of oxen and fatlings, (Mt 21:4;) and the fatted calf was brought forth to entertain the returning prodigal. Luke 15:23. (Ed: There to celebrate the love of the father for the son!) Charles Bridges comments on Proverbs 15:16-17 - Here are the sources of the cheerful heart—the fear of the LORD and the love of man. And here also is the constant feast that so satisfies that the saint’s little is better than everything the world has. “Riches and poverty are more in the heart than in the hand. He is wealthy who is contented. He is poor who wants more” (Bishop Hall). The universe will not fill a worldly person, while a little will suffice for a heavenly heart. Few, alas, put this divine testimony into practice. Parents, do you seek the lasting happiness of your children? Then lead them to expect little from the world and everything from God. Lawson - Love is a pleasing affection of the soul, and diffuses cheerfulness all around it. It gives a relish to the scantiest and coarsest meal. Water is sweeter than wine, and dry bread more pleasant than fat things full of marrow, when this delightful affection gives a relish to them. Ruth and Naomi were happy when they lived on the gleanings of the fields of Boaz, and in the fulness of their satisfaction poured their blessings on the head of him that allowed them the scanty pittance. But selfishness, and hatred, and variance, makes every pleasant dish insipid or bitter. The conversation of friends is far pleasanter than any dish at the table. Where hatred is, there is silence or sullenness, or at least hollow mirth, and tasteless ceremony; but where love and the fear of God is, the table conversation is delightful and useful. We find even an heathen poet reflecting with rapture on the pleasures of such entertainment*. How blessed were the disciples of our Lord, when they sat at meat with him! Barley loaves and fishes were probably ordinary fare with them, but they were entertained with divine discourse. Such pleasure as they enjoyed in their Master’s company we cannot now expect; but his religion is admirably fitted to promote our present happiness, for love is his great commandment. He enforces love between husbands and wives, as well as among friends, by motives which no Christian can withstand. If love is necessary to sweeten our ordinary meals, we must never come to the Lord’s table without exercising supreme love to Christ, and fervent love to our fellow Christians. We must consider ourselves as one body and one bread, when we are all partaking of one bread. Love is a pleasant passion, but let us beware of anger, which makes a man a torment to himself, and a plague to his neighbours. Devotional from Ridley Pearson - May 15th “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.”—Pr 15:17. Interpretation.—Vegetables represent the simplest diet (Dan. 1:12), while meat, specially of fatted oxen, was the holiday fare of Eastern peoples. Thus our Lord, in two of His parables, alludes to “oxen and fatlings” and “the fatted calf” in connection with social festivity. The word rendered “dinner” signifies a portion or ration (Jer. 52:34). Thus the contrast is between a very humble meal shared by one or more, and a dinner-party at which many guests, and those of the well-to-do class, are entertained. Let friendliness and harmony prevail at the one, and ill feeling intrude at the other,—who can doubt which of the two would be the more agreeable? Illustrations.—Elijah and the widow of Zarephath shared a very humble meal, but the charity of the prophet and the gratitude of the poor woman gave it a flavour and a relish which were utterly wanting to those much grander entertainments at which murderous thoughts obtained, presided over by Absalom and Herod. On the other hand, we see how bad passions may obtrude themselves into the simplest (and most sacred) meal, in the case of Judas, with traitor’s hand on the table, at our Lord’s Last Supper; and false brethren like “spots,” or “sunken rocks,” at the Christian agapæ, or love-feasts, later on (Jude 1:12). Application.—In this proverb, love to our neighbour is represented as sweetening the social meal. The plainest fare may be far more enjoyable than the most luxurious banquet. The difference between man and man lies in the heart far more than in anything external. There are comrades in labour, there are cottage households, to whom, united by true mutual regard, the social meal, as plain and cheap as possible, affords real pleasure, specially if “it be sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.” There are owners of mansions, on on the other hand, with every luxury at command, whose daily common repast is a daily trial through contrariety of tempers, and whose formal parties give little or no real satisfaction through the absence of geniality and friendliness. Love will sweeten the meanest food. Hatred, or the absence of love, will embitter the richest feast. Not riches, then, nor yet poverty is the secret of social happiness—but love. There are rich people who live harmoniously, and doubly enjoy their abundance. There are poor people who quarrel over their herbs. There is hospitality which gives genuine pleasure because so hearty; and a frigid reception of guests, lacking the spirit of hospitality, which repels;—and this, in either case, quite independent of externals. “To walk in love as Christ also hath loved us,” this is the one secret of social joy, and this we learn of Jesus by having Him as our Guest. (Counsels of the wise king or Proverbs of Solomon Applied to Daily Life) Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute. Pr 10:12 26:21 28:25 29:22 2Sa 19:43 20:1 Jas 3:14-16 he: Pr 15:1 25:15 Ge 13:8,9 Jdg 8:1-3 1Sa 25:24-44 Ec 10:4 Mt 5:9 Ac 6:1-5 Jas 1:19,20 Proverbs 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries POWER OF PATIENCE ON STRIFE See Tim Keller's sermon - The Healing of Anger Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression. POSB introduces the proverbs in Pr 15:18-30 entitling this section "Their conduct and its consequences." - People’s circumstances are, for the most part, determined by their own conduct or by the conduct of parents or guardians who are responsible for them. While godly behavior produces success in God’s eyes, ungodly behavior produces failure. This principle applies both to life and to relationships. True, the ungodly may be very successful according to worldly standards, but God knows their hearts. The godly receive the Lord’s blessing and protection, but the ungodly have to plow through life on their own-without God’s help-and suffer through the painful consequences of their sin. Notice the conduct of the righteous as contrasted with that of the wicked throughout this set of proverbs. Hot-tempered man - Hebrew literally reads "a man of wrath" or a "man of rage!" He is an angry person and clearly contrasts with the man who is slow to anger. Hot-tempered (02534)(chemah from yacham = to be hot, Delitzsch says it is related to an Arabic word hamiy = to glow) is a noun which can refer to physical heat, but more often is used figuratively to convey the picture of inner, emotional "heat" which rises and is fanned to varying degrees. And thus chemah can mean hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, and even poison (figuratively speaking). This type of anger is anger at its fever pitch so to speak. Chemah is used 9x in Proverbs - Pr 6:34; 15:1, 18; 16:14; 19:19; 21:14; 22:24; 27:4; 29:22 The Septuagint translates the Hebrew chemah in Pr 15:18 with the adjective thumodes which speaks of one who is furious, passionate. Thumodes is used frequently in Lxx of the Proverbs (Pr 11:25; 15:18; 22:24; 29:22; 31:4). Thumodes is derived from thumos which describes passion (as if breathing hard) and thus speaks of an agitated or "heated" anger that rushes up (impulsively toward someone). Thumos is a tumultuous welling up of one's whole spirit, a mighty emotion which seizes and moves the whole inner man. Woe! Avoid these folks (Pr 22:24)!