(箴言 19:1)
“行為純正的貧窮人，勝過乖謬愚妄的富足人。”
這絕對不是在叫大家仇富。在希伯來語中，行為純正的貧窮人到底在表達什麼呢？這裡的行為純正，並不是指完全沒有瑕疵、不犯任何罪的完美之人。這裡所說的，其實是一種對神真誠的心。這意味著，即使他做錯了事，他也會願意認罪悔改，隨後獲得耶穌的赦免。這是一種對神非常真誠、毫不虛偽的生命。錯了就認罪，而不是輕佻地敷衍，那是真正抱持著痛悔的心。即使他在物質上是一無所有的貧窮人，上帝依然會喜悅他，會幫助他並賜福給他。相反地，那種乖謬愚妄的富足人又是什麼意思呢。這是指他的心不聽上帝的話。他的行為喜歡說謊，生命和價值觀都是扭曲的，走的是歪路。即使他擁有很多財富，上帝也不會喜悅他，他的生命依然是一片空虛。
這段經文告訴我們，神所看重的是我們的心對祂是否真誠，我們是否走在神所指示的正路上。如果是的話，就算我們在物質上有所缺乏也不緊要，不用擔心，上帝一定會賜福、幫助和供應我們。這才是我們生命中最重要的事情，就是我們的心有沒有對準神。
相反地，如果我們走的生命道路與上帝背道而馳，固執且不肯悔改，錯了卻絕不更改，甚至不覺得那些錯誤是錯的，那麼就算他在物質上再怎麼豐富，也只是徒勞。
這其實對我們現代人來說是一個很大的反省。很多人在社會的教導下，都渴望追求很多很多的金錢。但問題是，對我們而言最重要的是什麼呢。神告訴我們，最重要的是與祂的關係，以及有沒有走在一條正確的路上。我想再次強調，這裡所說的行為純正的貧窮人，並非指一個完美的人，而是一個願意真誠對待神、真誠對待自己的人。他願意聽神的話，走錯了願意回頭，這就是最寶貴的。神不要求一個完美的人，因為神知道世上不會有完美的人，但神要求的是一個肯悔改、肯愛祂、願意過著悔改生活的人。
現在我們在都市中生活，究竟追求的是什麼呢。是物質的豐富，還是我們與神的關係呢。
(Proverbs 19:1)
“Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.”
This is absolutely not asking everyone to hate the rich. In Hebrew, what does a poor person walking in integrity actually express? The integrity here does not refer to a perfect person who is completely without blemish and commits no sin. What is being spoken of here is actually a heart of sincerity toward God. This means that even if he does something wrong, he is willing to confess his sins and repent, and subsequently receives Jesus’ forgiveness. This is a life that is very sincere toward God and not at all hypocritical. Confessing when wrong, rather than being frivolous or perfunctory, comes from holding a truly contrite heart. Even if he is a poor person with nothing in terms of material possessions, God will still be pleased with him, will help him, and will bless him. On the contrary, what is the meaning of that perverse and foolish rich person? This refers to someone whose heart does not listen to God’s words. His behavior loves to lie, his life and values are distorted, and the path he walks is a crooked one. Even if he possesses a lot of wealth, God will not be pleased with him, and his life remains completely empty.
This passage of scripture tells us that what God values is whether our hearts are sincere toward Him and whether we are walking on the right path that God has directed. If so, it does not matter even if we lack material things; there is no need to worry, as God will certainly bless, help, and provide for us. This is the most important thing in our lives, which is whether our hearts are aligned with God.
Conversely, if the path of life we walk runs contrary to God, being stubborn and refusing to repent, never changing when wrong, or even not feeling that those mistakes are wrong, then no matter how abundant he is materially, it is all in vain.
This is actually a great reflection for us modern people. Under the teachings of society, many people long to pursue a vast amount of money. But the question is, what is the most important thing to us? God tells us that the most important thing is our relationship with Him, and whether we are walking on a correct path. I want to emphasize once again that the poor person walking in integrity mentioned here does not refer to a perfect person, but to a person who is willing to treat God and themselves with sincerity. He is willing to listen to God, and is willing to turn around when he goes wrong, which is what is most precious. God does not demand a perfect person, because God knows there will be no perfect people in the world, but what God requires is someone who is willing to repent, willing to love Him, and willing to live a life of repentance.
Living in the city now, what exactly are we pursuing? Is it material abundance, or our relationship with God?
