Proverbs provide wisdom how to navigate the various situations of life in righteousness. There are 31 Chapters of Proverbs: read one chapter daily to fill your mind with them.
Chapter 1 begins with the purpose of the Proverbs:
- To know wisdom and instruction,
- To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice and equity; - To give prudence to the naive,
To the youth knowledge and discretion, - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The general piece of Wisdom in these verses is:
- My son, if sinners entice you Do not consent. My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,
The chapter lists man reasons and the purposes of outcomes of the sinners but it’s sufficient to follow the exhortation from the verses above.
Here you have a consistent reaction to the Gospel when it begins to effect the economics of a person or community: opposition or denial.
Here’s why: a result of the fall is that man seeks the glory that comes from other men. Since money is the ‘righteousness’ of the world men make decisions to be able to work with other men to earn a living or gain wealth.
When the Gospel comes into a community like with Paul preaching the Way, that there is one God, etc. the locals who were making money selling silver statues of Artemas began to oppose Paul. They were more interested in making money than believing in the Way.
In fact the Pharisees were, “lovers of money” (Luke 16:14) and “…loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.” (John 12:43).
This combination is always at work: the love of money and approval of man. Judas was a lover of money and betrayed Jesus as a result. Many men over the centuries have done the same thing: betrayed their faith for money.
The scenario in Acts 19:21-41 are a lengthy description of the response by Demetrius a silversmith when he realized Paul’s message would effect his income. Read and see to what lengths men will go to deny the Way so they can continue to gain wealth.
Views from an Evangelist 