“One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.”

In case you’re wondering, the poor thing is not an act by me. Seriously though, this is Solomon reminding us that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Appearances can be very deceiving. These are humble individuals—“poor in spirit”—who recognize their need for God and possess deep wisdom, integrity, and richness in God’s favor, even if they are materially lacking. There are stories of those with great wealth who invest enormous time and energy into managing it, keeping track of it, and keeping it safe. Not all people with wealth are distracted from the things of God by it, but certainly those without wealth have less opportunity to be distracted in that way. The great wealth Solomon is primarily referring to in this verse is spiritual wealth—peace, integrity, a focus on inner qualities, and the character of God. I know people with very little who are deeply godly, and people with very much who are very secular and worldly. Scripture consistently points out that it is far more difficult to have wealth and keep one’s focus solely on the things of God. Pretending to be what we are not is a core principle of this verse as well. Today, be grateful for what you have, use it to glorify God, and don’t be distracted by your condition—whether you have much or little. #BeTheEdge

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5 NIV