Pro 15:17 | KingComments | STEP | These two verses clearly belong together. They say that spiritual things are better than material things or material wealth (cf. ). is about money and the fear of the LORD; is about food and love. says that fear or reverence of God brings more satisfaction than “great treasure and turmoil with it”. Turmoil expresses itself in confusion, panic, tumult. Turmoil is fear. There is a saying that goes: The more possessions, the more fear. The reverence of God knows no such fear, for through it comes contentment and peace, the opposite of turmoil. Solomon makes it clear that the righteous will not let wealth dominate them. So you can have a lot of money, the most expensive car, the fastest computer, the largest television with the sharpest screen, a house equipped with everything and still not have peace (cf. ). That peace is found only in walking reverently with God. says that a happy, loving relationship is better than a delicious meal where the hearts of those who partake of the meal are filled with hatred toward one another. This is the situation in a family where wealth replaces love. Certainly, there can also be a rich meal with love, but here we are talking about a situation where a choice must be made between a luxurious meal and hate on the one hand and a poor meal and love on the other. Many people recognize that a house with cheap furniture in which people love each other is preferable to a luxuriously furnished house in which people hate each other. Love makes difficult circumstances bearable, while hate destroys all the joy that a good meal is meant to bring about. You can have food of the very best quality in abundance on the table and still not have that “continual meal” of . Instead, you feel miserable every day and are consumed in your heart by fear, turmoil, hatred and bitterness. The leaven of hatred prevents one from truly enjoying the meal. Even though someone is not listed as rich and has to make do with very modest meals, he can still be in a constant feasting mood. That is so, if he knows, appreciates and enjoys his spiritual riches. That makes the heart truly and constantly happy. There is peace and contentment, the opposite of turmoil and restlessness. We can also apply these verses to a local church. If in a church there is a “great treasure” of knowledge, the possibility of turmoil is also great if people start boasting about it. Such was the case in Corinth, where the believers were rich in Christ ( ). However, this did not make them humble and thankful, but puffed up, while love was lacking ( ). Because the Corinthians boasted of their knowledge, there was discord and confusion and all kinds of abuses ( ). In contrast, what the Lord Jesus says of the church in Philadelphia ( which means “brotherly love”) is that they have only “little power”. He praises and encourages them ( ).

‏ Proverbs 15:17

Better … Than …

These two verses clearly belong together. They say that spiritual things are better than material things or material wealth (cf. Psa 37:16). Pro 15:16 is about money and the fear of the LORD; Pro 15:17 is about food and love.

Pro 15:16 says that fear or reverence of God brings more satisfaction than “great treasure and turmoil with it”. Turmoil expresses itself in confusion, panic, tumult. Turmoil is fear. There is a saying that goes: The more possessions, the more fear. The reverence of God knows no such fear, for through it comes contentment and peace, the opposite of turmoil.

Solomon makes it clear that the righteous will not let wealth dominate them. So you can have a lot of money, the most expensive car, the fastest computer, the largest television with the sharpest screen, a house equipped with everything and still not have peace (cf. Ecc 4:6 ; Ecc 5:12). That peace is found only in walking reverently with God.

Pro 15:17 says that a happy, loving relationship is better than a delicious meal where the hearts of those who partake of the meal are filled with hatred toward one another. This is the situation in a family where wealth replaces love. Certainly, there can also be a rich meal with love, but here we are talking about a situation where a choice must be made between a luxurious meal and hate on the one hand and a poor meal and love on the other.

Many people recognize that a house with cheap furniture in which people love each other is preferable to a luxuriously furnished house in which people hate each other. Love makes difficult circumstances bearable, while hate destroys all the joy that a good meal is meant to bring about. You can have food of the very best quality in abundance on the table and still not have that “continual meal” of Pro 15:15. Instead, you feel miserable every day and are consumed in your heart by fear, turmoil, hatred and bitterness. The leaven of hatred prevents one from truly enjoying the meal.

Even though someone is not listed as rich and has to make do with very modest meals, he can still be in a constant feasting mood. That is so, if he knows, appreciates and enjoys his spiritual riches. That makes the heart truly and constantly happy. There is peace and contentment, the opposite of turmoil and restlessness.

We can also apply these verses to a local church. If in a church there is a “great treasure” of knowledge, the possibility of turmoil is also great if people start boasting about it. Such was the case in Corinth, where the believers were rich in Christ (1Cor 1:4-7). However, this did not make them humble and thankful, but puffed up, while love was lacking (1Cor 8:1).

Because the Corinthians boasted of their knowledge, there was discord and confusion and all kinds of abuses (1Cor 1:10-12 ; 1Cor 14:33 ; 1Cor 11:17-22). In contrast, what the Lord Jesus says of the church in Philadelphia ( which means “brotherly love”) is that they have only “little power”. He praises and encourages them (Rev 3:7-13).