True Prosperity
Promotional emails and full-color mailers for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other holiday sales are coming your way, and so are the urges to buy more things, a lot more things. But step back and inhale a nice, slow, deep breath. Don’t let the tidal wave of holiday marketing and cultural pressure engulf you in a fit of frenzied spending. Pause, instead, to consider the following verses from Proverbs. Better yet, memorize these verses and meditate on them frequently throughout the holiday season. They will help you navigate the snowstorm of materialism that is blowing your way.
- Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble. (Proverbs 15:16)
- Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred. (Proverbs 15:17)
- Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice. (Proverbs 16:8)
- Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. (Proverbs 17:1)
What do these verses teach you? They teach that no matter how many things you buy and receive this holiday season, no matter how much good food you eat, no matter how much money you accumulate, and no matter how much feasting you do, there is something that is better than all of these things. It is the fear of the Lord, which is having a right relationship with God. It is loving God, trusting God, obeying God, and being satisfied with him. Learn to find your satisfaction in God and to cultivate a personal life that is quiet and simple, free from unnecessary stress and turmoil. Foster close family relationships more, and not so much on buying, giving, and receiving hordes of pricey things.
Duane Garrett summarizes these verses in a helpful when he says this:
Contrary to the common understanding, [true prosperity] is not to be found in wealth, possessions, and rich food. The greatest possessions are a pious life, a loving home, and personal integrity.1
This is a valuable perspective that enables you to navigate the coming holiday season with wisdom, thoughtfulness, and peace. Will you take it to heart?
Thomas Overmiller serves as pastor for Faith Baptist Church in Corona, NY and blogs at Shepherd Thoughts. This article first appeared at Shepherd Thoughts, used here with permission.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
- Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, vol. 14, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 153–154. [↩]