“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor

   will himself call out and not be answered.”

Proverbs 21:13 ESV

Here, the author uses “personal risk” to motivate the reader to hear the cry of the poor. Often it is easy to dismiss the suffering of others … until it happens to me.

This proverb reminds me of an English form poem that captures the sentiments of a 1946 speech written and delivered by German Lutheran pastor and theologian Martin Niemöller who was released from Dachau by the Allied forces in 1945.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Who are you overlooking because you haven’t experienced their hardship?

“Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity

  than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.”

Proverbs 19:1 ESV

Note here, the connection between integrity and wisdom. In this case, this connection is presented in contrast as integrity vs. fool.

The words “better is a poor person” are counterintuitive in a consumer-driven culture where more, particularly wealth, is considered better. But the writer is not, as some might misunderstand, saying “poor is better.” He qualifies the type of poor person who is better. That is, the poor person who “walks in his integrity.” The point here isn’t being poor or rich, it is being honest.

Since the goal is integrity, the author is saying – again, in contrast to worldly ideals of wealth and power – being poor with integrity is better than any other state of being without integrity. The writer says exactly this in Proverbs 28:6 (ESV), “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.”

Now, to close the loop on the contrast between integrity and fool, I should say that integrity is a matter of wisdom. Thus, those who lack integrity also lack wisdom. In other words, those who lack integrity are fools.

What is your commitment to wisdom? Can you be satisfied to be “a poor man who walks in his integrity,” rather than “a rich man who is crooked in his ways”? Or, is wealth – or worldly comfort – more important to you than integrity? To check yourself, examine the areas where you are willing to cut corners.

Lord, help us to examine our hearts accurately and to be so committed to integrity that we can be satisfied with living in poverty IF we have integrity.

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,

  and the Lord tests hearts.”

Proverbs 17:3 ESV

Having been a bench jeweler in my earlier days, I always enjoy Bible references to gold and silver. Here, the writer uses a word picture from the artisan’s shop to make a spiritual point.

Jewelers place precious metals into a crucible, then add fire. This causes the metal to soften until it is eventually liquid. In the liquid state, the molecules spin, which causes the impurities to surface. These impurities – sometimes called sludge or dross – can then be separated off from the precious metal, thus purifying the whole.

Using that analogy, the writer indicates that it is God who tests and purifies our hearts. Here, the testing seems to be multi-faceted. First, there is the sense of examining the condition or purity. Second, the crucible can be used to increase the purity. Finally, precious metals are heated for shaping purposes. If we put all these purposes together, we might say, “God examines our hearts, purifies our hearts, then shapes them into something beautiful for His glory.”

Most of my readers have heard of 14K gold jewelry, but many may not know exactly what that means, … except that it is “real gold.” Most gold jewelry is an alloy, which means it is part gold and part some other metal(s). The rating of gold purity is based on the number 24. Each part of the 24 parts that is gold is indicated by a number followed by k or karat. So, a 24 karat gold item is 24 parts gold and 0 parts any other metal. The common 14 karat gold chain or ring is 14 parts gold mixed with 10 parts of some other metal, which is 58.333% pure gold. 18K is equal to 75% pure gold. The higher the k-count, the higher the purity.

Paul uses this same imagery in 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (ESV) to describe how he was made fit to be a Gospel witness. “For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” In these verses, the words approved and tests, are the same Greek word (dokimazō), which corresponds with the Hebrew word (bāḥan) translated as tests in Proverbs 17:3

Using this analogy, when you measure the purity of your heart, are you a 10K, 14K, 18K Christian? Are you happy with that number, or would you like to get closer to 24K? Remember, it takes heat to purify precious metals. Are you willing to have God test your heart, to put some heat on you to purify your heart?

“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

  but the Lord weighs the spirit.”

Proverbs 16:2 ESV

One of the things this verse identifies is the amazing ability of man to justify himself. This may happen in a few ways: first, by shifting the blame for a wrong committed to someone else; or second, by (intentionally or unintentionally) not recognizing our own sinfulness.

The first is the easiest to see. I don’t want to take the blame for something I have done, so I point at someone else. Or, while acknowledging that I actually did the wrong, I present a laundry list of reasons why it wasn’t really my fault. Sometimes that comes out as, “If you hadn’t done [X, Y, or Z], I wouldn’t have done what I did.” In essence, I’m saying it’s your fault that I did wrong.

The second category seems to be the more difficult to notice due to the challenge of recognizing the sinfulness of our own hearts. In other words, we think too highly of ourselves. Jeremiah 17:9 addresses this: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Sometimes we simply don’t see it and at other times we attempt to deceive ourselves (and others). A sign of growing in Christ is an increasing recognition of our own sin and a willingness to take ownership of it.

The astute reader should have noted already that even though I may (intentionally or unintentionally) deceive myself about my sin, “the Lord weighs the spirit.” He knows. He knows. He knows the truth. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch over the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3 ESV). Since that is the case, why do we not readily acknowledge our sinfulness, then repent? That’s a rhetorical question.

May God give each of us the grace to recognize our own hearts, readily acknowledge our sin, then repent without delay.

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

    but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

Proverbs 12:1 ESV

Here’s a take-home test. In some ways it’s a pretty simple test, though it’s the kind we might prefer to be conducted privately. After all, the results could be embarrassing?

QUESTION: Do you love discipline? There are two possible answers: yes or no.

If your answer is yes, you love knowledge. In this context, knowledge means more than knowing a set of facts. It carries the meaning of wisdom. In other words, the wise man loves correction.

If your answer is no, then you are stupid. The King James translates this word as brutish. Both stupid and brutish are colorful ways to say foolish. The juxtaposition of wisdom and folly is a major theme of Proverbs, and here, we see another way of presenting that theme.

So, how did you do on the take-home test?