Proverbs 13:8
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The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
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Here is one of the more difficult proverbs of Solomon. But you can find a wise lesson and warning, if you look carefully and diligently. Do you desire wisdom enough to take the time to read this proverb, consider it soberly, and absorb the following comments? The love of money is the root of all evil and destroys men's lives, but the poor still crave it!
Commentators see two options. Either, a rich man can buy himself out of trouble, but the poor avoid most dangers by having nothing to attract enemies. Or, the wealth of a rich man attracts theft and threats, while poverty protects the poor from such violence. In the first option, both riches and poverty are good; in the second option, riches are bad, and poverty is good. These interpretations are obscure; there is a clearer and simpler lesson.
A ransom is the price paid for freedom from captivity, to remove a penalty, or restore a previous condition (6:35; Ex 21:30; 30:12; Job 33:24; 36:18). Many men lose their souls by not giving up the pursuit of riches. Ambition and wealth become the ransom price of their lives. The desire to be rich and successful is the price, or cost, of their lives. When lying on their deathbed, men who have chased riches all their lives have an empty life!
They will not redeem their souls by choosing contentment over covetousness and greed. They sacrifice their lives for money, and then go to the grave with nothing (Eccl 5:10-17). A rich man could enjoy life, naturally and spiritually, if he did not love money! He could be peaceful and quiet, but he chooses the obsession of acquiring yet more. This foolish and destructive fascination with riches is a common disease (Eccl 6:1-6).
Paul warned, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (I Tim 6:6-10).
The danger is clear - riches can destroy you. If a man loves money, he will sacrifice his soul to get it. Riches are the ransom cost of his life. He could buy his freedom, but he will not pay the price. He remains a slave! Jesus loved a rich, young ruler, who would not give up his riches for Christ. He would not ransom his life (Matt 19:16-22). Jesus knew it was as difficult as a camel going through the eye of a needle (Matt 19:23-26), but He also taught that men should be willing to pay the whole world for their souls (Matt 16:26).
What about the poor? How does the second clause of the proverb relate to the first one? We know that it relates, or it would be a separate proverb. But we also see the disjunctive "but" connecting it. Therefore, there is a related contrast in the second phrase.
The poor live without many of the fears, worries, and burdens the rich endure - they even sleep better (Eccl 5:12). They watch the rich in their vain and troublesome pursuit of wealth (Ps 39:6), and they see the rich man die just like a brutish fool (Ps 49:6-13). But they will not learn from the object lesson, and they will not hear the wise rebuke that riches are vanity! They complain about their poverty and wish for the wealth of the rich.
How did we choose the interpretation given above, rather than the two popularized by commentators? The two clauses are related; the two clauses are disjunctive; rebuke is not the same as danger or trouble; and the poor refuse rebuke rather than never hearing any. And we find related or similar instruction in other proverbs (10:15,22; 11:4,28; 13:7; 14:20; 18:11; 19:1,4,7; 22:1,2; 23:4-5; 28:3,6,11,20,22; 30:7-9).
If you are rich, you are in great danger of missing the kingdom of God (Matt 19:23-26). It is your privileged duty to avoid trusting your riches and to be willing to give them to others in order to lay hold on eternal life (I Tim 6:17-19).
If you are poor, you should be content with your condition, realizing that godliness with contentment is great gain (I Tim 6:6; Heb 13:5). Remember and believe Solomon's many rebukes of the vanity of riches in this book and Ecclesiastes (10:22; 15:16; 16:8; 28:6; Ps 37:16; Eccl 1:16 - 2:11). If you need more, pray wisely for a moderate increase (30:7-9).
Riches are usually a curse! You arrived with nothing; you will leave with nothing; and God does not care how much you gathered during your life. Redeem your soul from this world's mad worship of materialism and success, and hear the rebuke of wisdom instead. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, serve only one master, and lay up treasure in heaven (Matt 6:19-21,24,33). You will soon be glad you did!
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