“Better Than” Conditions

“Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices and strife.” (Proverbs 15:16-17; 16:8, 19; 17:1. KJV)

Proverbs is very good at teaching us contrasts. The “Better than” verses cited for today are a good example of choosing the better way.

Take wealth: little is better than much with humility and gratitude, and earned honestly, than much secured dishonestly and in shady dealings. Add to that the fear of the Lord, for it is He who gives us incentive to work and earn in honorable ways.

Take everyday living, like the meals we enjoy. A dinner of vegetables served up with a good helping of love and harmony in the home is better than the best cuts of beef eaten amidst strife and disharmony. Or even a dry morsel, eaten with thanksgiving and quietness, than a whole houseful of such fare as might be offered as sacrifices to idols. That’s something to think about, because we don’t necessarily think of making sacrifices to idols nowadays. But the inclination is there for worship and sacrifice, and what we worship shapes who and what we are. We can even worship wealth. And how we pursue it, consider it, and use it all reflect our relationship (or lack of) with God. “Better to be “of an humble spirit” that to be filled with pride.

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right” (16:8). Ill-gotten gain harms those who get wealth dishonestly. Dishonesty in work and service also causes harm to the employer, business, or entity providing employment, as well as to the employee who does not give a full day’s work for his wages, or who finds a way to siphon off benefits without accountability. Rewards and wealth should not become our major concern in life. To choose “the better way” is the only way to operate, and the only way to find peace and happiness. Then, eating a meal or lying down at night, the person can rest in peace, at harmony with God and how “the better way” has been practiced. “The better way,”—God’s way—is richer than silver or gold.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, July 14, 2010