“Labor not to be rich” -

“Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.” Proverbs 23:4 (KJV)

“Do not toil to gain wealth; have the sense to desist.” Proverbs 23:4 (Jewish Publications Society of America)

   This part of the Bible seams to be seldom read and often shunned in the materialistic world we live in today.  If we can unlock what is being said here, we can understand why today’s world system is coming unraveled all around us. 

   Does the Lord wish to keep us poor?  That’s not what this is saying.  Actually what it appears to be emphasizing is it’s OK to be rich, as long as that wasn’t your goal.  Which fly’s in the face of all modern day western world Gurus.  How can you hit a target you don’t aim at?  The answer it would appear King Solomon is implying here is, you aim at a more rewarding – more full-filling target.

   We have all heard of the story of the Rock Star, Movie Star, business tycoon who after they got to the top of the heap.  Self destructed from the compromises they forced themselves to make or were forced to make during the climb up.  Which found them rich / wealthy but inwardly morally, ethically, spiritually destitute.

“In great matters men show themselves as they wish to be seen; in small matters, as they are.” – Gamaliel Bradford

This is what the “cease from thine own wisdom” means.

   If you set your target to be rich / wealthy than you run the danger of wealth being 

the only value you have.  

“He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.”  -Benjamin Franklin

   The author of Proverbs knew that better then any body.  Being the son of the most famous and favored (by God) King that ever lived.  Yet it was Solomon in his laboring for riches which led him to create and establish many of the most powerful incantations, spells and ceremonies that are in the Satan worshiping occult that we have today.  The Pentangle-the very symbol of the Occult being just one of them.

What my opinion is that King Solomon is trying to say, at the end of a long life of running from God, as the book of Proverbs seams to imply his coming back to the Lord very late in life.  Is, in your own wisdom you might think getting rich is the target you wish to set as a goal.  But the “sell outs” the compromises along the way are many and you can’t really 

afford their accumulative cost.  It appears Solomon billed as the wisest man that ever lived didn’t figure out until very late in life.  That it was far better to have done as his father King David did by letting the Lord God and His Word be your source of Wisdom.  To set His precepts Righteousness, Truth, Integrity, Patience…etc, as your goal or target instead of Riches or Wealth and if you get rich in the process then your material wealth will be the poorest part of your overall true Riches. 

  

   Perhaps you can give us an example of this understanding from your personal experience or you personally know of an example of this in some one else’s life you would be willing to share with us!