Better . . . Than Proverbs Series

Proverbs 17:12 compares what truly is extremely dangerous to your life. "Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly."

A mother bear whose cubs have been robbed is angry and therefore dangerous (Hosea 13:8). But it’s better to come face to face with a mother bear than with a fool (kesîl; Prov. 17:10, 16) who’s out of control.

Think of Herod who was so incensed that the wise men didn’t report back to him concerning the newborn King that he ordered the extermination of every boy child younger than two years old born in Bethlehem. Think of Nebuchadnezzar who stoked the furnace seven times hotter than normal rather than bow to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Think of Saul who killed eighty-five innocent priests because they had unknowingly helped David. It is certainly better to meet up with a mother bear than any of these fools.

Not all fools are equally dangerous but, as Robert L. Alden suggests, "Consider meeting a fool with a knife, or gun, or even behind the wheel of a car; a mother bear could be less dangerous" (Proverbs: A Commentary on an Ancient Book of Timeless Advice, p. 134).

Proverbs19:1 compares the upright in character and the perverse in speech. "Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool."

[The first line of this verse is the same as the first line of 28:6.] It is better to be poor and honest (19:22b; blameless means morally whole; 2:7, 21; 11:5; 28:10, 18; Job 1:1) than to be a fool (kesîl, "dull, thickheaded") who speaks words that are perverse (‘iqq š; "twisted"; 2:15). The word for "poor" (r š) means destitute or hungry; it is not a dishonorable term suggesting poverty from laziness. A fool may try to get rich by devious means, but honesty is still a better policy, even if it means going hungry. [Walvoord & Zuck, Vol. 1. p. 945]

It’s better to be honest and to retain your integrity even though it might lead to poverty than it is to compromise your convictions even if doing so would lead to riches. Many people think that if a person is poor, it’s due to sin in his life or a lack of faith in his heart. But that’s not necessarily so.

To the church at Smyrna, Jesus said, "I know you’re poor financially, but in reality, you’re rich because you’re walking with Me" (see Revelation 2:8, 9). Contrast that with what He said to the church at Laodicea: "Your monetary blessing isn’t at all indicative of My blessing because, spiritually, you’re lukewarm" (see Revelation 3:14–18).

The wealthy person who got his wealth through dishonesty might enjoy it for a season, but he has no assurance of what the next day will bring. We who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, we who have been adopted into God’s family, however, know He’ll provide for us day by day (Matthew 6:11). [Courson, p. 238.]

Proverbs 19:22 implies that the productivity of kindness is better than lying even if it means poverty. "What is desirable in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar."