Proverbs 15
Scripture
Proverbs 15:16
“Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.”
Observation-What does it say?
King Solomon continues to share his God given wisdom with us in this chapter.
Understanding-What does it mean?
Money can buy a lot of things, but it does not buy purpose or peace.
Most, if not all of the verses in proverbs are wisdom that King Solomon learned from personal experience. For example, King Solomon, who was the 2nd son of King David and Bathsheba, also wrote Ecclesiastes. In the book of Ecclesiastes, he tried to find significance and life's meaning through his wealth, but discovered that the pursuit of wealth was meaningless, a chasing after the wind. (Eccl. 1:14). Verse 16 in this chapter is similar to that discovery. Fearing God and keeping His commands is what Solomon discovered was the true meaning and purpose of life (Eccl. 12:13-14).
Life Application
Pursue and surrender to God first and watch Him take care of the rest.
Seek first His Kingdom and righteousness and all these things will be added to you. (Matt. 6:33)
I believe that we were all created to serve Someone greater than ourselves. Great turmoil is a result of chasing after things that do not matter in the light of eternity. The thing with chasing after money or anything else worldly is that the more we get, the more we want. We are never satisfied. There is only One who truly satisfies, Jesus, and living our lives in complete surrender and obedience to Him ends the search. It's just like the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, who desired water that would never have her thirst again...who desired a life where she stopped chasing after desires that proved meaningless in the end. The answer was in surrendering her life to the living water, Jesus. (John 4)
Dear Jesus, thank You for coming to Earth to save us and giving us of Your living water. That is the reason that I was drawn to You and opened my heart to Your invitation of salvation, because You showed me that my desires for meaning and purpose could not be fulfilled through empty pursuits of guys, looks, popularity, money, and status, but rather in pursuing You. Thank You for the peace You have brought to my life as a result of me surrendering completely to Your will. Continue to draw me to Yourself. Continue to sustain me and complete Your work in me as I pursue Your Spirit wholeheartedly and daily put to death the emptiness of the flesh. Amen.