Articles
Pretenders
“There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.”
Proverbs 13:7
There is a simple truth that this proverb points out. Some people are pretenders. They aren’t wealthy, but they will borrow themselves into deep debt so that they will look wealthy. They might have a large house and a new car. They might wear fashionable name-brand clothing. But they are dirt poor. Others have a tremendous amount of wealth but you’d never know it by how they appear. I’ve heard the original owner of Walmart was this way. The bushy-bearded, camo-wearing guys from Duck Dynasty would be another example.
However, there is more to this proverb than stating a simple truth. What is the point? What can we learn?
First, don’t judge based on appearances. People aren’t always what they appear to be. Don’t assume the poor are poor. Don’t assume the rich are rich. Would it be fair, then, to say that we should treat all people equally rather than based on how much money we think they have?
Second, the proverb calls us to consider which scenario is better: to have the appearance of wealth while actually being poor or to have the appearance of poverty but actually be rich. The answer is so obvious, that the proverb doesn’t even need to ask the question. But, in case there was any doubt, a previous proverb gave the answer. “Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant than he who honors himself and lacks bread” (Prov. 12:9). It is better to be rich (have servants) even if no one sees you that way (lightly esteemed) than to be poor (lacks bread) and yet honor one’s self.
Proverbs is a book filled with practical lessons for our day to day lives. These little sayings of wisdom can lead us to contentment, strength, and health. But, with a little more thought, we can also find that these wise proverbs have spiritual applications as well. Proverbs 13:7 is no exception. What if, instead of thinking about physical wealth and poverty we instead thought about spiritual wealth? The same lessons would apply.
There are those who are spiritually impoverished (whether they know it or not) and love to portray themselves as being spiritually rich. In Jesus’ day, they stood on street corners to be seen praying (Mt. 6:5). They would make certain their prayers were long enough to get your attention (Mk. 12:40). They would give money to the needy…as long as someone was watching them do it (Mt. 6:1-2). They would fast, and everyone would know about it (Mt. 6:16). Such men were praised and respected by others, but spiritually, they were in poverty. They had no reward from God. They lacked the wealth that mattered. On the other hand, there are those who beat their breast and humbly proclaim themselves to be sinners (Lk. 18:13). They are poor in spirit but own a kingdom and are right with God (Mt. 5:3; Lk. 18:14). Others are filled with acts of righteousness that no one will ever know about (Mt. 6:3-4,6,17-18). Such men may look poor, but they are truly rich. Again, don’t judge based on appearances.
Additionally, we must all decide what matters most. Is it more important to us that people think highly of us or would we be happier being disregarded by men but right with God? While some Jews during Jesus’ day struggled to get the right priority, I am confident that you will easily see what should matter most to us. But seeing what matters most and living with the same priorities are two different things. Are we more concerned with what the world thinks about us? More concerned with what other Christians think about us? Are we the pretenders?
