Classic KJV - Proverbs 22:1

Wealth can be held privately, but it cannot be enjoyed privately. The first half of this proverb makes that point emphatically, and the second half makes it more concrete. We are social creatures. We can celebrate some great achievement with others, but before we’re going to party with them, they must be honestly happy for us.

In referring to wealth, the key words in this text are currency—silver and gold—not food and clothing. The text describes a dilemma arising once the bare necessities of life have been secured. It is a most basic conflict of priorities. What’s more important to us, having good friendships or good investments?

Translation

What is at issue here? A good name. In the original Hebrew, the word, “good,” is absent. It simply reads “a name,” and yet virtually all translations including the German and Spanish modify this with “good” or some equivalent. Why? The second phrase answers this: “Favour is better than silver and gold.” What is favour? Clearly it’s very important. You might think that more people would be looking for it.

The Hebrew word for “favour” here is חן (ḥēn, pronounced “khen”), which interestingly is most often translated as “acceptance” or “grace.” Used fully 67 times in the Bible, its first appearance is at Genesis 6:8, where Noah, in stark contrast with all the rest of humanity, is described as finding favour-grace-acceptance in the eyes of God. Indeed, the vast majority of uses refer to the favour of God and from God. Sometimes God’s favour is directed to the beneficiary through other people, rather than directly from God.

Allies Trump Assets

The implications are profound. Though it’s good to find favour with people, good to be respected in society, it’s much more important to find favour with God Almighty. Simply put, if we’ve found favour with God Almighty, if He is our ally, then we’ll benefit more than from billions of dollars. The favour of God is worth more than all the wealth of the world. But then, what does this have to do with our name? Being favoured by God means having our names recorded in His Book of Life, something very much better than being rich. So how do we obtain this good name and favour, since they are better than riches?

No Man is an Island

Some commentators believe that this proverb describes not one, but two things being more valuable than wealth: A good name and favour. I think the two are so closely related, they can be considered a single quality: Treating others charitably. No one is an island. If we treat other people with kindness, honesty, and wisdom, we should win their respect. We should build a good reputation. We appreciate other human beings, and we will be appreciated by them. Yet the fact remains that wealth, in itself, has no such assurance of friendship.

History is full of those who have been incalculably wealthy, but friendless. Who would want to party with Adolf Hitler, knowing that his delicacies were bought with gold pried from the teeth of the millions slaughtered in the Holocaust?

Classic Comments

Adam Clarke comments on our text: “Character will support a man in many circumstances; and there are many rich men that have no name: But the word of the man of character will go farther than all their riches.”

The great Matthew Henry observes:

We should be more careful to do that by which we may get and keep a good name, than that by which we may raise and increase a great estate. Great riches bring great cares with them, expose men to danger, and add no real value to a man.... To be well beloved, to have an interest in the esteem and affections of all about us; this is better than silver and gold... This should teach us to look with a holy contempt upon the wealth of this world.

Indirectly both commentators imply that being debt-free with few assets is better than to have a balance sheet with many assets and many liabilities.

Wealth Can Grow or Shrink

A person’s financial “net worth” (an expression I hate) is not stable, but rises or falls, given a host of factors the market conditions, spending patterns and work ethic. Similarly, a person’s reputation can be affected by external factors, like the rumour mill. Yet over time, our reputation will rise or fall from our personal behavior. A good reputation can be suddenly shattered, perhaps from a scandal, or shine from an act of kindness or heroism.

Our Maker, Saviour, and Friend

Jesus was not financially wealthy.

Jesus had no house or dwelling, (Matthew 8:20). We know little about His youth, yet we know “He grew in wisdom and honour and in favor with God and man,” Luke 2:52, despite the fact his parents were poor. Even when young, He gained something more valuable than gold.

When Jesus started His public preaching ministry, He humbled Himself. He insisted that he be baptized with common sinners, though he himself was without sin. For this, His Father God was “well pleased” with His Son (Matthew 3:16-17).