28 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are [a]bold as a lion.
2 By the transgression of a land many are its princes,
But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
3 A poor man who oppresses the lowly
Is like a driving rain [b]which leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law strive with them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand all things.
6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is [c]crooked though he be rich.
7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
You can tell a lot about a person by how they handle adversity (v. 1), power (v. 2), or money (v. 6). I’ve heard it said, “money is a-moral”, that is, it is neither good nor evil. But boy does it amplify the nature of a person, whether good or evil. Unfortunately, that is often not for the best, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
So it is with our own hearts, if we are self-centered, that becomes frightfully apparent when we get even a little taste of money or power. Truthfully, most of us would lean toward the self-centered end, even if it isn’t on purpose. It is only by following God’s commands that we have any hope of handling position or wealth with integrity.
But it isn’t enough to just try and do what is right, because we need to understand why we are doing it–not that we always understand God’s plans. How many times have you heard a child ask, “Why?” How many times have you asked it yourself? So we need understanding and knowledge (v. 2), and that comes from something deeper than blind obedience.
The secret is in v. 5, we must seek the Lord, and we will find understanding to handle all sorts of things that never made sense before. When we train our hearts and minds to look at things the way God does, which requires knowing him more and better, then we begin to see His logic, which is so far above our own. He alone can equip us to handle the challenges that life throws our way.
Seek the Lord, not for fame, or glory, power, or wealth, but seek Him first, above all else. Then, other things will fall into place, and He will guide you in the way that you should go. Be His discerning child (v. 7), and be bold about it (v. 1). It may not make sense to a lot of other people, but don’t apologize for doing what you know to be right. When it is God’s way, you can trust Him to put all the pieces together, and equip you for good works (2 Tim. 3:16-17).