2025.03.31 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 13:6–11

Read Proverbs 13:6–11

Questions from the Scripture text: What guards the man whose way is blameless (Proverbs 13:6a)? What does wickedness do (verse 6b)? What does the one in Proverbs 13:7a do to himself? But what does he truly have? And what does the one in verse 7b do to himself, but what does he truly have? What does the man in Proverbs 13:8a motivated? Who is more difficult to motivate in this way (verse 8b)? What truly makes the difference between joy and perishing (Proverbs 13:9)? What truly enables someone to live well (Proverbs 13:10)? What happens to the sort of wealth in Proverbs 13:11a? How is it gained? What happens to the sort of wealth in verse 11b? How is it gained?

What is the true riches? Proverbs 13:6–11 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the true riches are the Lord Himself, and the righteousness by which He provides Himself to us.  

Proverbs 13:6 was the conclusion to the first section of the chapter, but it also functions as the introduction to this section. Men tend to think that wealth will guard them and prevent them from being overthrown, but it is actually righteousness that does this. This is echoed in Proverbs 13:10, which again teaches righteousness as the true riches, which gives life and joy.

We were prepared for this section by Proverbs 13:4 which introduced the concept of riches. Now, we find that there’s riches, and then there’s riches. 

One may accumulate material riches, but have nothing of the true wealth toward God (Proverbs 13:7a, cf. 1 Timothy 6:17; Luke 12:21), and one may be materially poor but rich in the Lord (Proverbs 13:7b). This is the true riches.

Proverbs 13:8 teaches one benefit of material wealth. One may be motivated to humble himself by it, in order to hear rebuke. 

The contrasting danger appears in Proverbs 13:10. Pride, which is often associated with riches, prevents someone from hearing rebuke, and turns even well-given counsel into strife.

There is nothing wrong with wealth itself, and one of the ways that we can see whether we have a right view of it is by how we go about accumulating it. If righteousness is our true wealth, then we will refuse to gain material wealth by dishonesty (Proverbs 13:11a). But, if righteousness is our true wealth, it will be by diligent labor that we gather material wealth, and we ourselves will grow great by way of righteousness (verse 11b).

What makes you feel truly wealthy? Is this “sane” in light of this passage? How are you seeking the true wealth? How do you go about accumulating material wealth? 

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving Yourself to us as our true wealth. And thank You for giving Your righteousness to us in Christ, as the riches by which this wealth is obtained. Grant that we would have the humility to be well-advised by You, and make us rich toward You forever in Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP16A “Keep Me, O God” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”