A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. (Psalm 37:16-17)
No one, the righteous or wicked, like going without the essentials of life. It is our nature as humans to desire what our bodies need to thrive — food, water, clothing and shelter. However, there is also the desire to obtain what we want; how far we are willing to go to get those things, very often, distinguishes the righteous from the wicked. A righteous man learns to be content with fewer material resources in deference to a robust spiritual life. The righteous person understands what is truly important in life and acknowledges that excessive wealth has the potential to be detrimental to someone’s faith. All too often, wealth causes a person to forget that the Lord is the source of all wealth and blessing.
David juxtaposed this notion with the behavior practiced by the wicked of the world. Wealth, even in abundance, never quite satisfies those not inclined to pursue righteousness. The heart of the wicked always wants more than what they have, never satisfying the longing they have for the things of this world. Just as an addict craves his particular vice, the wicked wants more than what he had last time. As it is written, “The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the stomach of the wicked shall be in want” (Proverbs 13:25).
In that vein let us remember that God, in His goodness and wisdom, always gives us what we need, but not necessarily what we want. He can do more with less than any multitude can do with much. Consider Gideon’s 300 man army: though few in number, they united as a powerful force. Their enemies on the other hand, though many, turned on one another and became a weak, fragmented force. That is because the wicked seek to advance their own pursuits as opposed to the righteous who seek the will of God. According to David, in the end, the wicked will become so weakened, they will not have the strength to overcome the righteous. After all, with God on our side it is as Elisha revealed when he prayed on behalf of his servant: “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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