Proverbs 19:1-2 (ESV) Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. [2] Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.
The word “better” is used frequently throughout the Proverbs and we should heed what it says when it makes comparisons and calls something better than something else. It is better, not just admirable or desirable. It is better to be a poor person with integrity. This should make us pray to want to love integrity more than money.
But then we need to heed the warning of verse 2. Desire without knowledge is not good. Do not desire integrity above money without growing in knowledge of the Word, of God, of Christ, of the cost involved. This is marvelous and immensely good for us. Chase after what is good and right, but in the chasing, if you neglect to educate yourself (intellectually, spiritually) in the necessary areas associated with the good thing you are chasing after, you are not doing a good thing.
Then note the last phrase of verse 2. To make haste even in doing good will result in you getting off the track and missing what you were chasing after. So, we are left with this. Chase after integrity more than money but do it knowledgeably and without haste. Take the time to develop the right attitudes, ideas, plans for being the person of God that you are called to be. Never run ahead of God and always take the time to know what God is saying to you through the Word.
How we need to heed the counsel of these verses in our personal lives and in our culture and in our churhces today.
Thank you Lord for this wise and timely counsel to our souls and minds and hearts.
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