Proverbs 28: King James Bible
Live Upright – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter twenty eight, Verse 6
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Daily Inspiration from This Verse – Live Upright
The verse above points out clearly, that anything is better than living sinfully. The wages of sin is death, and it doesn’t make any difference what walk of life you come from, never mind what your social status might be.
If you adhere to perverse ways, you’ll be paying the penalty for doing so whether you be rich or poor. But the Lord rewards people that live upright in their ways despite what they have or don’t have.
When you live upright, you walk upright. You have a good standing with the Lord and with most people. Walking in uprightness is the act of willfully taking one step after another down the road that the Lord has prepared for you, rather than taking perverse or alternate routes created by anyone but the Lord.
The word “perverse” isn’t being used to describe sexual depravities, though that would include such iniquities. If someone is a pervert that’s one thing, but the word perverse means so much more than that.
If you live upright, you:
- do not turn away from what is right or good
- live properly or correctly (as designed and directed by the Father)
- would be obstinate in opposing what is wrong, unreasonable, or unaccepted
If you are perverse in your ways, you:
- turn away from what is right or good
- live contrary to what the Lord has established, and are contrary to his law
- are obstinate in opposing what is right, reasonable, and accepted (wrongheaded)
Definition of Perverse from Merriam Webster Online
Chasing after what is right and good in the eyes of the Lord have nothing to do with riches or material prosperity at all. Well, at least not those that we require right here and right now. Certainly we will be rewarded by the Lord when the time comes. And those rewards will not tarnish, will not rust or corrode, and they won’t be fleeting.
Prosperity begins with the heart when we live upright. Because we’re obedient to the Lord, we abstain from doing things that will bring on regret later on in life. This is why riches are in a way, such a problem.
Riches in and of themselves are just an accumulation of stuff. The problems come with how we’ve achieved them, and what we’re doing with our lives after having them. For some people, they’d be willing to do just about anything to gain financially, and will do anything to keep it while they have it.
A great measure of regret, strife, contention, iniquity, and overall perversion, take hold of some of the most successful people in this world. You see celebrities complain about how miserable they are despite being on top of the world.
The onion that is being peeled in Hollywood and other places of entertainment, is beginning to give us a small glimpse into the extremely dark and sinful world of what it takes to make it to the top. And I believe that many of us would rather be poor yet maintaining a clean conscience, than rich and famous, yet with a destroyed conscience, and a barge full of regret that comes with selling your soul for foolish gain.
Related New Testament Scripture
Acts 20: King James Bible
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Romans 1: King James Bible
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Philippians 2: King James Bible
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
1 John 1: King James Bible
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Prayer
Father,
Thank you for giving us your Word, so that we may be reminded of what needs to be placed into proper perspective. Help us to remember that your ways are better, your laws are better, and your reward is better, than anything that this world has to offer us. Help us to recognize when we are being tempted to sin for the sake of material gain, and to choose what is right over wrong diligently. Thank you Lord! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen
Question
Do you live upright according to the will of the Lord?
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Thanks Brian…yes indeed, the perversions going on in hellywood are quite bizare. About a year ago, I heard an interview on youtube of a man who documented some bizare happenings in Malibu. A lot of murder and suicide, to go along with drunkeness, narcotics, orgies etc etc. This is an area of LA that is loaded with money, yet they live in misery. I wouldn’t want that life, and neither would you, Brian. It is a pure joy to be a child of the King…wouldn’t trade that for anything. Thanks again, Brian…stay strong Brother.
Hi George,
Amen Brother! It is far better to serve the Lord than it is to serve ourselves or mammon, that’s for sure. Money is empowering.If someone is inclined to ruin their lives a little, it will only be amplified with money. If someone is inclined to be do right with it, they’ll be able to do a lot of right. I see it as a tool, such as a butter knife.
You can butter your bread, or stab someone with it. What’s in the heart is what will determine someone’s fate if they wind up with a bunch of money. Check out the variety of outcomes of lottery winners. It’s horrifying! Murder, suicides, addictions, overdoses, divorces, and jail, are the norm as it relates to people who wind up with big bucks all of a sudden. Sometimes, the only thing keeping people from living out all of their iniquities to their fullest extent, is a lack of money.
Thanks for your comment George! God bless you mightily in Jesus name!