Daily Wisdom 244: Proverbs 11:28

Proverbs 11:28 (NKJV) — 28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

The wrong attitude toward money. The question we must ask ourselves is, “Where is my trust?” The person who trusts in money will certainly fall. A person does not need to have money in order to trust in it. If people think money would solve their problems if they had it, they are trusting in money. Those who are overcome with fear, worry, and doubt because of the loss of a job or a bad economy demonstrate that their trust is in money.

Mark 10:24 (NKJV) — 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!

Regardless of economic trends or personal fortunes, righteous people will flourish in the same way that a branch flourishes. In other words, they recognize they are not their own source of life and strength, for a branch depends solely on the vine for life.

John 15:4–5 (NKJV) — 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Those who are righteous worry no more than a branch worries. Their responsibility is not to originate life or fruitfulness but to simply let the life of the vine flow through them.

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