Proverbs 23

The parts in Proverbs 23 that spoke to me were all about keeping modest wealth. "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches and they are surely gone. Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless." (verses 4, 5, 10) I think this is all talking about priorities in life, what really comes first, and how we go about getting those things. I can make two mistakes in this regard, I can have the wrong order to my priorities and/or I can work toward the priorities in the wrong ways. In clear statements, I am told not to work harder and harder just to get rich. There may be a day where the Lord desires that I give extra effort, but that will be His calling and not my decision just to gain more wealth. Should I choose to work harder and harder for money would mean that I am not trusting in God for His provisions over my life. The scripture then says to seek wisdom in order to show restraint. This implies to me that there will be some times where it is necessary to work harder and then it is up to me to develop judgement to know when to say stop. Secondly, then, I think verse 10 is talking about how I am supposed to go about achievements in life. So, assuming that my purposes are ordaind and that I am showing proper restraint, there are reasonable boudaries that are already established for proper behavior. It is not honorable to expand my realm at the expense of someone else. Again, expansion comes from God and if that is His desire, then He will provide that in His own ways. I read the scripture and time and again hear the same theme, although said many ways..."Play by the rules". I interpret this first to be God's rules, and then to be the rules of this world. It is not my place to judge the rules set by those in authority over me and so I must abide. In this case, but more and more in all things, I start to use that phrase as a guiding light. Am I playing by the rules? First His, and then the worlds. I'm guided by morality, of course, but I think I can fear and honor God the best when I really seek to "play by the rules". -Bob