It's a Treasure

Proverbs 13:7 (New International Version)

One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

That gem of wisdom is part of a larger list Solomon penned in Proverbs 13.  There are other translations of Scripture which can shed a little more understanding on the verse. Here are a couple:

(New Century Version)

Some people pretend to be rich but really have nothing.
    Others pretend to be poor but really are wealthy.

(The Message)

A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;
    a plain and simple life is a full life.

Mr. Jones met Mr. Smith on the street on day. "Why Mr. Smith, I haven't seen you in a long time. How are you and how are things going with your business?"  Mr. Smith was quick to respond. "My business failed and the doors are now closed, but now I am rich!"

Before you jump to the conclusion that Mr. Smith had juggled the books and closed his business while lining his pockets at the expense of others, that wasn't the case. In fact, Mr. Smith told the story of his business failure, reaching rock bottom, and realizing he was completely broke.  He continued to relate how, during his distress he had turned to God and found that his previous experience of having millions in the bank, was an existence of spiritual poverty. 

His life had been pretentious and showy, like the Proverb describes, but now he realizes how empty life could be. When Jesus became the Lord of his life, and he yielded to the call of God, he found the things that bring real value to living. 

It's a hard lesson to learn, but one that is aimed at us all. Jesus himself encourages us in the Sermon on the Mount, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Jesus wants us to know that life's value is not based on the riches with a dollar sign, but the riches we have in knowing we are bound for the promised land. Paul even wrote about these thoughts in 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."  May we seek that life, real life, in which we lay up our treasure in heaven. 

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