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The Proverbs Project - Chapter 22 Verse 7
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Anyone who has ever heard Dave Ramsey has likely heard this verse. Dave tells us that all debt is bad and is to be avoided at all cost. When we interpret this verse as a component of human behavior, we can absolutely recognize the value in Solomon's (and Dave's) wisdom. Although we may not wholly agree with the sentiment that the rich rule over the poor, we can certainly agree that this verse also contains a warning to the rich against the enslavement of others. With riches come power. Power can be used to help others or to suppress others. If the Borrower is Slave to the lender, the power lies with the Lender. The borrower is GIVING the lender all of the power in the relationship. Borrowers who are making poor deals and taking loans they cannot afford are relinquishing all of their power and, essentially becoming a slave to the Debt. Borrowers who are leveraging assets and making wise financial decisions through financial arbitrage are retaining power in the relationship. Some of the Borrowers from the second line are the same as the Rich in the first. Not all Borrowers are poor, Not all Borrowers are powerless, Not all Borrowers become slaves. But those who become Borrowers through necessisity often find them selves in a powerless position.
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Chapter 22 Verse 13:
"The Sluggard says: "There is a Lion Outside! I'll be killed in the public square" The Lazy man will always find an excuse to shirt his duty. To the sluggard, there is always a "lion" or another insurmountable obstacle. The Lion becomes someone else's responsibility to remove. Where the sluggard sees an obstacle, the Wise and Industrious sees an opportunity. We do not live in fear of the Lion. We embrace the struggle and invite the challenge. The Opportunity to slay a Lion is not common. Men of Wisdom and Industry are not common either. Without question, doing battle with Lions may lead to failure. Is the Glory not worth the risk? Bobby Kennedy told us "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." Challenging the lion is Always worth the battle. As to the Sluggards...They best stay inside and leave the Lions to those worthy of the challenge. |
AuthorThe Proverbs Project is intended to be a daily personal reflection on the wisdom on Solomon. We reflect on a book of Proverbs that corresponds with the date of the month. ArchivesCategories |
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