Proverbs 16:19

Maximize your life! Improve it today! If Solomon compares two things and says one is better, grab it. Choose humility with the poor than to be arrogantly rich with the proud.

See the previous proverb to be warned about the importance of this decision for your life. It says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Pr 16:18).

God will judge the proud, because their arrogance is obnoxious to Him. But He will bless and favor the humble by His mighty power (Pr 18:12; 22:4; Is 57:15; 66:1-2; Jas 4:6).

You must do two things to choose this better life for God’s blessings. You must choose a humble spirit for yourself, and you must choose humble friends, even if they are poor.

Here is precious wisdom. Can you grasp it? Will you obey it? The only true God and the wisest king declared a priority for your life to give you contentment and peace. If you want joy and satisfaction, then choose the humble poor for friends over the haughty rich.

After observing and experiencing every advantage his great power and wealth could provide, one of the greatest kings wrote that it is better to humbly enjoy the friendship of poor and modest friends than to be rich and move in the circles of the arrogant proud.

It is better to be poor and humble than rich and proud. The world cannot believe the concept. Will you believe it? They say success and wealth justify arrogance, and associating with movers and shakers is as good as it gets. They are very wrong, and their error will come back to haunt them. Pride is evil enough to destroy any benefit of wealth.

You cannot explain this idea to a worldling. They are busy worshipping their own bellies (Phil 3:18-19). They cannot grasp why Moses left all the pleasures and treasures of Egypt to suffer with the poor people of God (Heb 11:24-26). But with Jehovah as his friend, he enjoyed greater riches with Israel than any Pharaoh could imagine (Ex 6:1-3; Ps 133:1-3).

What makes great friends? The like precious faith other believers have with you (II Pet 1:1), rather than precious riches the successful have in bank accounts. Rich persons with worldly arrogance never make good friends for godly people (Pr 18:11,23; 28:6,11). The poor make better church members as well, as James clearly described (James 2:1-10).

Where can you find such friends? In a true church of Jesus Christ that loves God and each other like the Bible describes. Forget any church that looks like a personality cult or nightclub act. Reject ritual and formality. Look where walking with God and delighting in Him is emphasized. There are few such churches, but beg God to help you find one.

Why is this priority true? Because pride brings contention and strife, and proud and rich friends will soon conspire to hurt you and take your assets (Pr 13:10; 18:23; 23:1-3,6-8).

Why is this priority true? Because the Lord loves and blesses the humble, but He hates and opposes the proud (Pr 6:16-19; I Pet 5:5-6). What man wants the Lord as his enemy!

Why is this priority true? Because contentment is the key to happiness and success (Eccl 5:10; I Tim 6:6; Heb 13:5-6). The proud and the rich always want more than they have.

Why is this priority true? Because you never lose giving up things for Jesus Christ (Mark 8:34-37; 10:28-30). In fact, the only way to success with your life is to lose it for Him.

Why is this priority true? Because you cannot take riches with you, but the lowly that trust in God have untold riches waiting for them (Matt 6:19-21; II Cor 4:17-18; I Ti 6:7).

Reader! Do you believe the words of Jesus Christ, Who said to seek His kingdom first in your life (Matt 6:33)? Have you found a band of lowly saints with whom you can share the riches of the gospel and the hope of an eternal inheritance? It should be a top priority.