Do Not Let Riches or Poverty Be Your Ruin

RICHES can result in hurt to the rich, even as poverty can be harmful to the poor. An ancient inspired proverb, as true today as it was when written, well expresses this fact: “The valuable things of a rich man are his strong town. The ruin of the lowly ones is their poverty.”​—Prov. 10:15.

But if the rich man’s valuable things are a strong town, how does this result in hurt to him? It is undeniable that the rich tend to view their riches as a protection, like a wall around a town. And it is understandable why they might. For riches generally mean to them good food, fine homes and other material benefits. Money does unquestionably have certain value, even as the Bible says: “Money is for a protection.”​—Eccl. 7:12.

But does wealth make one immune to cancer, heart disease and other calamities? Can it buy happiness​—a secure marriage, or well-behaved, respectful children? On the contrary, a person may actually lose his health and damage his family ties because he tries too hard to be in an upper-income bracket. It is just as another inspired proverb explains: “The valuable things of the rich are his strong town, and they are like a protective wall in his imagination.”​—Prov. 18:11.

DO NOT LET POVERTY BE YOUR RUIN

On the other hand, the poor must also be on guard, for poverty can likewise contribute to their ruin. They may profess to believe in God, and to practice the true religion, but poverty can depress their spirit and twist their thinking. A wise man of long ago recognized that this could happen, and so prayed: ‘May I not come to poverty and actually steal and assail the name of my God.’​—Prov. 30:9.

In dire need, a person could be tempted to steal. In many instances today the poor person sees many around him living in abundance and he may be resentful over the inequities. Yet such circumstances are not justification for stealing, under either the laws of God or those of man.

If one does yield to temptation and stoops to stealing or similar dishonesty, what are the consequences? He may end up in prison, which can mean disgrace both to the person and to his family. Further, his conscience may torment him, or, even worse, it may be seared and he may become a habitual wrongdoer. If corrective steps are not taken, the result will be God’s disapproval and one’s losing out on the prospect of everlasting life in God’s righteous new order, now near.