Proverbs 18:11
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The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
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Rich men trust their money for safety. They think they can buy their way out of trouble. But their conceit deceives them! They cannot postpone death; they cannot take a cent with them; and the holy and terrible Judge they will soon meet cannot be bribed at all!
The rich think themselves secure from all enemies, as if in a strong city; they imagine the city has a high wall to repulse even the most aggressive attackers. But it is the deceit of conceit! Cancer has no regard for money; neither does Father Time. Trouble will breach the wall; death will storm the city; and the final judgment will sweep it all into hell!
We will not fully appreciate this proverb, without reading the one before it. There we read, "The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (18:10). What a difference between the righteous and rich! The righteous seek safety in the LORD, while the rich look to their money for protection. See the comments on 18:10.
Can the rich buy themselves safety? They can hire a crop duster to spray their property for mosquitoes! They can post bond for a prodigal son! They can buy politicians to get laws helping their businesses! They can pay the best doctors for a nearly perfect facelift! They might even be able to pay the ransom to get a young child back from kidnappers!
So the rich man lives with the arrogant confidence of a conqueror. He eats at the best restaurants, flies first class, and has a chauffeur. He doesn't worry about unemployment, braces for the children, his failing parents, paying the mortgage off, getting the kids through school, or anything else. He thinks he has it made ... until he dies and wakes up naked in the blinding light of the Judge of all flesh, Who has no regard for rich men!
David wrote about these men and their insane thinking (Ps 49:6-14). They cannot buy off Death for any in their family. They presume Death will not strike them like others. They see great estates settled when rich men die, but they ignore the warnings and continue in arrogance. They name buildings and parks after themselves to promote their honor. They die like hyenas and rot in the grave, but their beneficiaries approve their lifestyle! Fools!
Jesus described a haughty rich man, who had more abundance than he could store. He conceitedly boasted he would build bigger barns to hold it all, and he would then begin his luxurious retirement in total security for many years. But our Lord said to him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" (Luke 12:20). His high wall fell down! His strong city was taken!
Wise reader, reject any confidence in riches that come your way (Ps 62:10; I Tim 6:17). Do not seek them, as they have damned many souls before you (I Tim 6:6-10). Choose wise Agur's prayer as your own, and be content with food convenient for your needs (30:8). Build instead your confidence in the LORD by good works (18:10; I Tim 6:19).
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