Proverbs 28.21
“To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.”
We must be objective and fair in the way we treat people, whether that be in business or politics or a court of law. We should not “play favorites.” Though it can be tempting, favoritism is unethical and unjust. This proverb states it quite simply: “Partiality is not good.”
In other words, don’t cheat.
An additional observation strengthens the admonition. People are particularly tempted when they are bribed to play favorites. And it doesn’t take much of a bribe to get people to cheat. Something as meager as a piece of bread is sufficient to incentivize some people to lie or deceive.
Proverbs 28:22
“A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.”
The expression “stingy” is a translation of a Hebrew word that means “evil eye,” which is a word we also saw in Proverbs 23. It describes someone who looks at the world through a selfish and greedy perspective. These are the people who are constantly looking for the easy way.
This proverb, like others, warns against shortcuts to riches. People who are stingy with their time and money, that is, people who have a self-centered view of the world, will ultimately discover that they have a surprise waiting for them: not more, but less.
Greed will distort your vision and blind you to the dangers that it brings. Chasing riches is bad enough, but pursuing wealth hastily is a recipe for disaster. Self-centered ambition, covetousness, and greed are ingredients of financial ruin.
The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy and addressed this very topic:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (I Timothy 6.6-10)
A wise person sets clear goals and works with integrity and discipline to achieve the goals. Along the way, the wise person is generous and charitable toward others. Most importantly, irrespective of the ups and downs of the journey, the wise person trusts God and has learned to be content.
“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4.11.13)
