A common, simplistic, and erroneous interpretation of Proverbs is that you will have a life free from pain, want, and worry if you follow its instructions.
No.
If you read Proverbs you should keep in mind four basic temptations that a person can face:
- Your foolishness leads you to disaster and you are tempted to curse God rather than repent and trust him.
- Your foolishness does not prevent you from gaining/keeping prosperity and you are tempted to think you are fine rather than repent and trust God.
- Your wisdom doesn’t prevent disaster and you are tempted to curse God rather than continue to trust him.
- Your wisdom leads you to prosperity and you are tempted by self-righteous pride rather than to continue to trust God in humility.
Solomon does associate wisdom with wealth, but he makes clear that wisdom itself is the greatest wealth. He would never concede that a wise man would be better off rich and foolish.
A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has understanding will find him out (Proverbs 28:11).
