Injustice Sweeps It Away

Here is a brief passage from Proverbs 13...

²⁰ He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.

²¹ Misfortune pursues the sinner,
but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children,
but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

²³ A poor man's field may produce abundant food,
but injustice sweeps it away.

²⁴ He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

²⁵ The righteous eat to their hearts' content,
but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

Verse 23 looks out of place. The surrounding text compares the righteous and sinner, fool and wise. They talk about discipline. Why would verse 23 jump into a brand new topic - the oppression of the poor?

Several years ago, I believed that a better paying job would alleviate our tight finances. I even asked God to open some doors. He did - just not the door I expected. Instead, God taught us that He already provided more than enough. I had mismanaged His resources.

The injustice did not come from oppression. I walked right into it. I signed up for that ride! How stupid can you be! Dumb, dumb, dumb. All of that money swept away in interest. I wasn't poor because I had no money. I had no money because I was poor.

Huh? That makes no sense. Well, actually, it does. I had it backwards. Poor describes character. Broke describes financial state. Rich describes character. Wealthy describes state.

Character is the single most influential factor in your financial state. Proverbs repeats this theme over and over again. The wicked are destroyed. The wicked will not stand. The sluggard has nothing. The righteous will never be driven out. Character, character, character.

What if verse 23 isn't talking about soldiers stealing your food? What if it's talking about all of that money going to the credit card company? Or the car loan company? Or the appliance store for our new, big screen TV? Or the cell phone company? Or this or that... What if verse 23 talks about the injustice I walk into?

What if I get out from under those unjust things? The verse promises that I have enough. Stop throwing it away.