Proverbs 1:19 “such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.”
As a young man, I loved motorbikes. I was always doing something with my motorbike, or saving for a new one. At one time I worked two jobs (night shift stacking shelves and day shift cooking burgers) to save up for the bike of my dreams, which at that point was a Yamaha 750cc triple. Not only did I want to buy it but also to dress it up a bit.
In those days (1970’s) bikes were quite plain. So I bought parts from all over the UK from specialist dealers and racing bike businesses. In the end, I had this unique motorbike with a 6-gallon alloy tank, rear-sets, drop bars, full fairing, and a square halogen headlamp. The full fairing was hand-painted. It was my pride and joy, a labour of love over a year in the making.
I loved going out for runs down the coast with a group of friends who also had unique bikes. We were great friends, sharing spills and thrills, and staying up all night talking about motorbikes. Imagine my dismay one day when I went to my bike after work and it wasn’t there, it had been stolen, even though it was locked and chained. I got the frame back about 6 months later when I also found out that it was one of my closest friends (who also had a motorbike) who had stolen it.
I was hundreds of pounds out of pocket, a year away from having another motorbike. He lost all credibility in the wider circle of the motorbike community and ended up in prison. I think his loss was the greater. My next bike adventure was already calling to me…..
KNOWLEDGE
While verse 18 has a figurative edge to it, verse 19 seems to edge closer to the literal. It’s an echo of verse 18 in some ways, that goes to the final outcome more than the consequences. Actions may have consequences, but continual actions have outcomes. There is an acknowledgement that there is a collective of people who make their goal, gain at any price and who are continually looking to take advantage of others no matter what harm that causes. What these people do not seem to see, it that the actual long term harm is also massively to themselves, that in the end their self-determination to gain at all costs, causes them to lose everything. It’s kind of like being a drug addict, the very thing you are craving, that you perceive is giving you a full and exciting life, has its hand in your wallet and is the same thing that’s killing you.
UNDERSTANDING: Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live? The words used for “takes away” in the Hebrew language is pronounced “yaqah” and it is found over 900 times in the Old Testament. The English words used to translate [ESV] are, taken; receive; took; her; brought; marry; accept; seized; and, captured. In verse nineteen, we pick up on the idea of an audacious and insolent removal.
WISDOM: where is what I do whole-heartedly each day taking me as an outcome?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Competition is a beautiful Influencing Strength – competing against your own team only has one outcome! Pushing others too hard will end in disarray. Winning at all costs is self-defeating, harming relationships, and creating disunity. Competition as a mature strength can help others go where they thought they never could, introducing new innovative and creative approaches. Those around you will flourish and be drawn to you and your leadership as you bring out the very best in them, whilst caring for them wholeheartedly.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version: [the path of selfishness, ends up in loss of self]
PRAYER: Father thank you for today. Please help me to live for you and invest wisely into other lives and futures.
Greed is opposite to generosity, something I need to continually foster. Generosity of spirit, generosity of time, finance, loving lavishly are all things to be nurtured. This morning as my little grandson craves my attention, I’m suddenly struck with a need to be generous.
Taking away riches from their proper owners at any cost will ultimately result in the loss of your own soul.
“The more you get, the less you are”, is sound advice. This proverb teaches me to steer clear of this path, no matter how attractive it looks.
Thank you, Pastor Allan.
Focussing on the outcomes I want in my life can help me develop and maintain consistency in all areas of my life especially when changing old habits, unhelpful thinking patterns is challenging.
It’s evident in our world today that selfish ambition destroys people both the victims and in many cases the perpetrator who’s life leads to a hellish finish. But our loving
God is so desiring for us to follow His voice of reason truth and understanding that we might prosper and be filled with His glorious riches . The path is narrow on our journey with God’s protection. I’ve been reading pilgrims progress and treachery is always pulling at the pilgrim attempting to lure him away from the narrow path . There are those who take the supposed easy path in life , As in the book only to end up dead or never seen again, and just as this verse illustrates “Actions may have consequences, but continual actions have outcomes” so well said Allen . Therefore let us run the race to attain the prize of Jesus Christ on the narrow path covered by His promises
Great word thank you
Amazing! I love the AUV.
You have given me such revelation to my current situation!
I have been seeking and praying and waiting to have clarity for a particular area. Before I opened this msg today the Lord has been showing me through Scriptures like: Jude. Abide in God’s love. And verse20-21.
How greatly blessed we are and so loved of God.
Selfless life is Eternally Rewarding!
Thank you Allan for helping me to see beyond the beyond!
Appreciate those nuggets!
Love these two thoughts:
“Actions may have consequences, but continual actions have outcomes. ”
“When you grab all you can get, that’s what happens: the more you get, the less you are.”
Once you begin to start the Christian journey & learn God’s ways you realise they are the exact opposite to what the carnal world offers . Our carnal flesh is our greatest enemy in many ways but we are so blessed to know the conviction of the Holy Spirit if we will put away our pride & selfishness & humble ourselves & listen to His still small voice. God has a much bigger plan for our lives if we will trust the details to Him & not allow our negative selfish ways to sabotage it. The meed to pray help & love the wayward ones into the kingdom is our biggest challenge.
Hi Allan
I know with life experience, the more you give whole heartily without agenda the more you receive. The more you take from greed the less you receive. You take what is yours wisely and with gratuite & thanks giving to God.
What I take out of this verse.
Greed is destructive, “Winning at all costs is self-defeating, harming relationships, and creating disunity” – it is important to always consider investing in others which takes away selfish attention to self.
Thanks again Ps Allan. Very helpful posts
“Winning at all costs is self-defeating” this is a powerful thought. I’m encouraged, to wisely bring people on the journey, encouraging, helping them become all that the Lord has called them to be!
It is so easy in today’s competitive world to always be trying to be better than the person next to you in all sorts of life situations. Real striving I think comes from knowing your strengths and trying to better yourself in those areas but not be competing with others. Who am I trying to please anyway? To have selfish motives gets you noticed in all the wrong places. To quietly strive in the areas of your God given abilities will be satisfying enough, knowing that you will have everything you need and will succeed in all areas of life according to Gods perfect plan
Allan
The fact that all research shows that people who spend time helping or assisting others are more satisfied in life only highlights proverbs 1.19.
Today’s question:
Where is what I do whole heartedly each day taking me as a outcome?
I feel it’s such an important question to ask ourselves every day,
To think of the long term outcome of our present actions ,
To think of the impact it will have in our lives and the lives of others ,
At the end every single action or decition we make will determine our future,
The want the I need the world is asking for an image a good look a model and we get bombarded with this everyday in our phones our tv’s our friends
Even Jesus got tested but He knew His purpose He knew that He had a greater task
When we focus on earthly things we fall I fall and we walk in a thin line making God who we need and not who saves us and correct us and loves us.
It’s until you have nothing else to loose that many times we wait and call on him at last minute when Jesus show us that we should know who we are and what our purpose is.
Thank you Allan for sharing personally from your rich experiences in life.
The World is filled with greed for personal gain and the greed leads to eventual collapse of the person. Led by the Holy Spirit we can resist the temptation to fall into the patterns of this World. Thank you for your daily medicine of Proverbs and sharing so openly. You are a blessing to the World.
Even spiritual discipline can end up being selfish activity if everything becomes about me. I pray that I will fix my eyes and focus on Jesus not on myself.
Thank you very much for these daily nuggets of gold (wisdom), Pastor Allan! We’re grateful for all the hard work you put in to prepare these.
Thank you Shamir
Hence, I feel the proverb exhorts us to fear God, as that is the foundation of true wisdom. A holy and reverent fear of God, who is ever-present, should humble us and guide us to act uprightly before our Creator. This is not about earning His favour but about developing an inherent sense of what is right and living according to it. Such a mindset cultivates integrity, reminding us that our actions are always seen and that doing what is right is ultimately the wisest path.