Introduction

Good day to all! We gather to study Proverbs chapter 28. Having surveyed various online analyses of Proverbs, I find them often fragmented, focusing on individual verses and losing sight of the larger interconnectedness. Chinese Mingding Destiny is distinguished by its comprehensive system. To illustrate, Matthew's Gospel, while seemingly a collection of narratives, essentially explores two kingdoms, two pursuits, and two destinies. Young ones among us, if you adopt this systematic approach to learning, your academic performance will undoubtedly improve. Learning must be based on building a coherent knowledge system. Some find the sheer volume of information overwhelming because it is disjointed, lacking interconnectivity.

In my weekday prayer sessions, attendance is strong. However, for our Friday study of Proverbs, fewer attend. Is it the higher return from Tuesday's prayer meeting, or from Friday's study of Proverbs? I submit to you: the returns from studying Proverbs are much more significant. One must cultivate the habit of constructing a system! The author of Proverbs, in his wisdom, intended to convey a specific meaning; we must discern the writer’s intent!

Are there any academics, teachers, researchers, or writers among us? If so, lend me your ear; I may not surpass you in your expertise. My writing always begins with a comprehensive plan: what central idea do I seek to express? The author of Proverbs was a master, exceptionally intelligent, surely approaching his task with careful planning.

Luke’s Gospel speaks of many falling and many rising! Exodus recounts the army of God emerging from Egypt! Ponder these, and consider the truth in my words. I believe this chapter of Proverbs focuses primarily on matters of finance, encompassing sin, the wealthy, the poor, the wicked, and the righteous. However, without careful analysis, it can appear disjointed.

A high school teacher among us employs a four- or five-paragraph essay structure, each segment contributing to a single, cohesive theme. Whether four paragraphs, five, or ten, the objective remains the same: to articulate a unified message, avoiding scattered and disjointed writing, reflecting a disordered mind.

The contents of Proverbs 28 are not randomly assembled! I found this chapter particularly challenging, as the central theme was elusive. Why did the author present it in such a circuitous manner? Because it is God’s divine will: that those who seek Him will understand, while those who do not will remain in ignorance. I believe today's chapter is profoundly insightful, offering a framework to construct a system: greed is the root of evil in the wicked, for it breeds wickedness!

Let us consider: Why do people become greedy? Because they perpetually feel insufficient, even if a king, they may still feel lacking. A few days ago, a young brother mentioned his father’s insomnia. I suggested exploring the cause. It turned out that his father was preoccupied with financial calculations. In China, fifty years ago, one million RMB in cash would have been considered a substantial fortune. His father possessed this amount and was still young enough to earn more. However, his reasoning was flawed: anticipating future medical expenses, such as a heart transplant costing 500,000 RMB or a kidney transplant costing 300,000 RMB, he feared that replacing all his failing organs would exhaust his funds. Alas! He allowed such thoughts to consume him.

Scientists have discovered that human organs can be sourced from pigs, owing to their comparable weight. Thus, human hearts can be replaced by pig hearts, human livers by pig livers, and human kidneys by pig kidneys. Why, I wondered, did this man dwell on such thoughts? Because humans yearn to prolong their earthly existence. The fear of death grips them! After much contemplation, they conclude that financial security is essential for survival. Yet, they fail to recognize that even wealth cannot overcome mortality. Steve Jobs, despite his vast wealth, succumbed to cancer.

If money could resolve all of life’s problems, we would all eagerly pursue wealth. However, it is a fundamental delusion to believe that money can solve everything, including the problem of mortality. The combination of greed and the desire to survive fuels a desire for wealth, prosperity and a good life; it is a very harmful thought. Rather than focus on the physical, one should labour to enrich the inner essence!

The recent trend of cosmetic surgery is sweeping the globe. Some say that residing in Korea without undergoing surgery is deemed abnormal. The cosmetic surgery industry in China is also flourishing. Contemporary society emphasizes physical attractiveness, unlike previous generations, whose photographs captured natural beauty, even without makeup. Consider the expenses associated with cosmetic surgery; without funds, it is unattainable, leading to greed. The result is a diverse range of individuals, each unique!

According to the logic of the flesh, financial security is essential for a quality life. Why is money necessary? Because it is required for medical treatment. Some justify cosmetic surgery as a means of securing advantageous marriages, transforming themselves into robotic figures, shaped by the surgeon's vision. All these actions are driven by the quest for survival.

Recognizing the Essence of Human Existence

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. (Proverbs 28:1)

Here, the righteous refer to those who trust in God, while the wicked are those who do not. The non-believers fear death, as they seek to prolong their earthly existence. Why are the righteous so brave? Because they rely on God, not on the flesh for survival. If one depends on the flesh, then money becomes paramount, dictating all aspects of life. In summary, greed is the root of wickedness, driving the wicked to any extreme for monetary gain.

When a country has rebellion, its rulers are many, but by a person of understanding and knowledge the state will be prolonged. (Proverbs 28:2)

Sin cannot be separated from the wicked. Understanding and knowledge refer to understanding the nature of the wicked, the meaning of human existence, the essence of money, and the true nature of sin. With such knowledge, the state will be prolonged, just as the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is an everlasting kingdom! This kingdom is not a material concept. Even if a person lives to 260 years, they cannot live forever. Even the ancient emperors, hailed as having ten thousand years of life, did not live to a thousand years. Therefore, rulers are frequently replaced, and states do not endure. Why will this kingdom endure?

A ruler who oppresses the poor is a roaring lion or a charging bear. (Proverbs 28:15)

A leader who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, but one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. (Proverbs 28:16)

This verse emphasizes that one who despises unjust gain will have a long life. A nation endures because it despises greed.

A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a roaring lion or a charging bear. (Proverbs 28:15)

The government should not seize the wealth of its citizens; if it does, it becomes a tyrannical ruler oppressing the poor, like a roaring lion or a charging bear, which is disastrous. However, in just over seventy years since its founding, China has emerged from poverty. The area where I grew up has now developed into a third- or fourth-tier city, appearing beautiful. Over a few decade, it has shed poverty and can feed 1.4 billion people. Capital is driven by profit and wealth accumulation, making it somewhat terrifying! China has enacted policies to combat the exploitation of its citizens.

When a country has rebellion, its rulers are many, but by a person of understanding and knowledge the state will be prolonged. (Proverbs 28:2)

A leader who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, but one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. (Proverbs 28:16)

Are there those who are greedy? Assuredly! Even elevating them to positions of authority makes it difficult to govern, as no one to can manage them!

A poor man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food. (Proverbs 28:3)

This all hinges on money. When impoverished, one oppresses those even poorer than oneself, which is profoundly wicked. Life becomes akin to a poor man oppressing the poor, like a driving rain that sweeps away all crops.

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely. (Proverbs 28:4-5)

Ponder this carefully. Today, we must grasp the true essence of money, for a thorough understanding will bring about transformation. If money has no bearing on our lives, why would we obsessively pursue it? Our understanding of wealth remains inadequate!

A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 28:20)

A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him. (Proverbs 28:22)

The ignorant man thinks all day about making money quickly, and as a result, he goes astray. Not long ago, Singapore sentenced several people to death. Why? Drug trafficking. Drug trafficking is a quick way to make money! Always wanting to get rich quickly, one does not hesitate to take risks. With this logic system, take a look at how you are living. Wanting to get rich quickly, many people are swindled out of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands.

I once saw a direct seller, eager to get rich, buying his own performance to get more money. In the end, he did not get any money. Isn't this foolish? Why are brothers and sisters in such a hurry to get rich? Hurrying to get rich can easily turn one into a wicked person, because the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil! Having this logic system determines whether a person is wicked or righteous. We truly live by relying on God.

The Path of Life Lies in Relying on God

Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall. He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! (Proverbs 28:18-19)

He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. (Proverbs 28:25)

Once a person has these desires, they dare to take even their parents' money! Why? Because the root is money! Whether in the village or the city, among neighbors, it's all about money! You take advantage of me, I take advantage of you, that's all.

Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “That is no transgression,” is the companion of a man who destroys.(Proverbs 28:24)

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26)

Those who are self-righteous do not know that is foolishness. People walk on a cursed path, a path of poverty, and still think they can make money. At the same time, they think they are very smart and continue to desperately walk this path. Sometimes when I stop them, they complain to me. I say, Don't do this, it's cursed! They answer reluctantly, and when I remind them again, they become impatient: You said it last time, but nothing happened, what else do you want? Listening to this makes it seem like suffering less curse is for my sake, very wicked! Saying such words shows discernment of good and evil, how foolish! The reason for this is still because they love money in their hearts, as if I am blocking their path to wealth. In reality, I am not blocking their path to wealth, but blocking their path to poverty.

As for whether they love money and are greedy in their hearts, besides themselves, God knows. Some people take money from their parents and say they will donate it to God so that God can bless them. Do you think it is necessary to take your parents' money to donate? In the end, they don't donate at all, it's all lies. The reason behind it is two words: greed for money! And the lies they tell are actually to cover up their sins.

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

A greedy person would never say: Actually, I have no other purpose, I just want to get the money from your pocket into my pocket. If someone says they want to take the money from someone else's account into their own account, even the dogs on the street would understand what kind of person they are. So they have to use high-sounding reasons to cover up their sins, because they themselves feel ashamed to do so!

Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. (Proverbs 28:14)

People who think about concealing their sins cannot listen to advice. When people advise them, they think others are jealous of their money. In fact, people see that they are about to fall into calamity and want to pull them out. So once a person is stuck in the eye of money, they live in a carnal state. A few days ago, a sister mentioned during her baptism that her child had a demon, and when the demon manifested, it was very ferocious and frightening. Ultimately, it is still because they love money in their bones! In fact, she is not without money, but the purpose of everything she does is for money. But the problem is that she does not live well even with money. She cannot have any movement when she sleeps, and if there is any movement, she scolds people, not even letting her parents off.

Some people harden their hearts and then fall into calamity for money, getting into lawsuits or other troubles, and bearing the sin of shedding blood. Because they know that someone has discovered their sin and they are about to fall into calamity, they want to kill anyone who affects their life.

If one is burdened with the blood of another, he will flee to the pit; let no one stop him. (Proverbs 28:17)

This is simply running headlong into destruction. As a result, the situation becomes more and more crooked. People just don't know where the path of life is? The path of life is in relying on God, and those who rely on God will be enriched.

He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. (Proverbs 28:25)

If a person does not rely too much on money and does not care about money, they will find that helping some poor people will not cause them to lack. And the more people want to save money, the more they will be cursed.

Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who shuts his eyes to them will have many curses. (Proverbs 28:27)

In fact, most curses are because of money! Many rich people also think they are smart, even though their money may not have come from righteous means, but they think their wealth is brought about by their own wisdom. Of course, not all rich people think they have wisdom, but those who think their wealth is brought about by their own wisdom, who think they have seized a good business opportunity. Why? His money may not have come from the right path, and he thinks he is very wise.

Many people suddenly have money, and they think their wealth is brought about by wisdom, thinking they have seized an opportunity. In fact, thinking they have wisdom is a tragedy. It is not to say, “All the wealthy people think that they have wisdom”. The clever poor person can see through him: he is just a pig standing on the wind, but the moment the wind passes, they will fall. Many things in the world are difficult to understand, and wicked people may also be raised up.

When the wicked rise, people hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase. (Proverbs 28:28)

The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and has been talked about.

A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out. (Proverbs 28:11)

One who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another who will be generous to the poor. (Proverbs 28:8)

Come Out of the Logic of Greed

People desperately make money, and in the end, it is accumulated for those who have compassion on the poor. This world is very mysterious, and you can live no matter how you live. God's design is like this. Stop relying on money to live. A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions, but in God. God will surely make us rich and not add sorrow to it.

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. (Proverbs 28:6)

I would rather give up the opportunity to make money than be a contorted person, I still have to keep my integrity, doing what is right in the eyes of God.

When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves. (Proverbs 28:12)

I would rather be an upright person before God than be a contorted person before God for money and for wealth, because that is not a long-term path. If people do not last long in the world, that is a matter of life and death.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:10)

To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong. (Proverbs 28:21)

Why show partiality? For money! It's all for money, for profit.

Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. (Proverbs 28:23)

He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. (Proverbs 28:25)

Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who shuts his eyes to them will have many curses. (Proverbs 28:27)

Brothers and sisters, you must reorganize your internal thoughts and reflect on whether there is a greedy logic in you? If so, and you live long enough, you will surely see God's deeds manifested in people! Stop living in the logical embodiment of greed, and live in the logical system of God's law. The one who obeys the law is a wise child. God's law is to tell people what not to do.

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (Proverbs 28:9)

We will end our Bible study here, may God bless everyone.