“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)
Growing Dominion, Part 96
“Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right” (Prov. 16:8).
The book of Proverbs frequently makes comparative statements like this one. Everyone who believes that there is such a thing as good knows that this is better than that. But Solomon likes to combine things, so that we are dealing with four variables instead of two. Here it is not said that righteousness is better than unrighteous (although that is true). Neither is it said that to have great revenues is better than just having a little (although that it true also). He combines them, and says that righteousness coupled with poverty is richer than riches coupled with unrighteousness. Of course the unmentioned worst option is to be unrighteous and poor, and the unmentioned best option would be to have righteousness and wealth. Why is this last option not mentioned? Because sinners like to kid themselves, and ambitious, greedy men can nod their assent to this proposition very quickly indeed. “Yes, of course, righteousness is very important. And as soon as I make my pile, I will give enough money for the church fellowship hall. If they agree to name it after me.”