Does Proverbs 10:15 contradict Proverbs 11:28?
A rich man's wealth is his strong city. The poverty of the poor is their ruin. But over and over again, we've seen that God has rendered wealth meaningless and that He has lifted up the poor. Even in Proverbs 11:28 he says, whoever trusts in his riches will fall. So what is Solomon trying to say here? Is he contradicting himself?
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Tim Maas
Supporter
Proverbs 18:11 later appears to amplify on Proverbs 10:15 by saying that the rich man's wealth is as a high wall (a protection similar to the "strong city" mentioned in Proverbs 10:15), but is perceived as such by the rich man only "in his own conceit" (that is, in his personal self-centered view). To me, this indicates that (as noted in the question and in Proverbs 11:28), God is fully capable of rendering that wealth meaningless, causing the rich man's fall.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
How circumstances can shape one's opportunities! Some people are "born on third base," meaning they inherit wealth, connections, or social advantages that make success more accessible. Others may be born in extremely difficult circumstances where even hard work may not yield the same results (i.e. these people are "born in the dugout"). Tara-Leigh Cobble has a great podcast on this. Our small group is using her Bible Recap in our weekly Zoom meetings. Solomon often praises diligence and wisdom (e.g., Proverbs 10:4, "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth"), but he also acknowledges that life is not always fair. Hard work is generally beneficial, but structural inequalities exist. This is why the Bible repeatedly calls for justice and compassion for the poor (e.g., Proverbs 14:31, "Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God"). See the big picture here. The overarching biblical message is that wealth and poverty are not the ultimate measures of a person's worth or security. Wealth can provide advantages, but it’s fleeting. Trusting in God, living righteously, and using whatever resources we have to help others are what truly matter.
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