Proverbs 19:1
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Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
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We have an ellipsis here - words removed by design to shorten the sentence and make it more powerful. We know we have an ellipsis by the incomplete antithesis, for there is no corresponding term for poor; and the blessed LORD gave us the full version in 28:6. It is not just a poor honest man compared to a perverse fool, but rather to a rich perverse fool!
Here is one of Solomon's many priorities - teaching wisdom by comparison. Young men should strive for righteous lives more than advancement in their profession or financial success. Honest dealings are more important than economic progress. You should choose holy living over any professional ambitions. See the comments on 13:7.
Consider some related comparisons. Little with the fear of the Lord is better than riches with trouble (15:16); a little with righteousness is better than great revenues without right (16:8); a poor honest man is better than a rich liar (19:22).
Young man, reject television advertisements, a fast track boss, or a wealthy neighbor. Making money and getting ahead is less important than walking uprightly in all you do. The man who does not fear the Lord and says profane things with his mouth is a loser, regardless of how much money he makes or the size of his house. He is going down.
You will face choices, maybe today, where you must choose between integrity before God and "getting ahead." Will you fudge a quote or estimate to make the sale? Will you be silent when your competitor is falsely accused? Will you pass a promotion that would require you to work for a dishonest boss? Will you tell the whole truth in the application for a job you really want? Will you fudge your financial statements to a bank?
You have been warned. If you put professional success ahead of holy living, you lose, now and later! The Lord sees your heart and every action, and He will treat you justly now and at His judgment seat. But He can give joy now that no money can buy (Ps 4:7)!
Your goals should be gracious speech, impeccable business dealings, being a loving husband, training your children, and doing good to all men. You must avoid hypocrisy, evil thoughts, and even the appearance of evil. And you do it all with the LORD first.
A wise man will consider that God is measuring His moral performance, rather than worry about the perverse fools measuring by financial gain. The wise priority in ambition of this proverb is from Jehovah and written agreeably by Solomon. Believe it!
Nabal was a very great man with much riches and a beautiful wife, but he was a fool and a son of Belial (I Sam 25:2-3,17,25). David was the most wanted man in Israel and running for his life, living in the woods and fields with the sheep. Which man would you want to be? Which man was better? What happened to these men?
God turned Nabal into stone for ten days of cold fear, killed him, and gave his wife to David. God protected David, put him on the throne, and made him very great in the end. One sold his soul to the devil, and the other walked with God. One went straight to hell at death, and the other died the death of the righteous. The difference in time and eternity between these two men is immeasurable. Consider it!
Young man, the way of the wicked seduces many (12:26). It is the prosperity of fools (1:32); you should ignore it, for it does not tell their horrible future (Ps 73:16-20). "He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch" (11:28).
If you give up the things of this evil world for Jesus Christ, He promises to reward you with a hundredfold now and with eternal life in the world to come (Mark 10:29-31).
Personal integrity is better than riches. The man who walks uprightly, though he is poor, is more of a success in the eyes of God and good men than a perverse fool, though he is rich. The wisdom of God and Solomon promotes holy living far over financial success.
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