Proverbs 28:6 "Character is the issue"

“Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.”

The issue is not wealth, but rather character. Because he has better character, the poor man has a clear conscience, blesses the world with his integrity, and should be esteemed higher than the wicked. Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus also demonstrates that the rich are easily blinded by their wealth from the knowledge of God and His Kingdom, which makes the poor better not only in this life, but in all eternity.
--------------------
Related scriptures: Proverbs 16:8; 28:18; 19:1; Luke 16:19-23
--------------------
“No legacy is so rich as honesty.” – William Shakespeare “All’s Well That Ends Well”

Proverbs 19:13 “A Son, A Father, and A Wife”

“A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.”

Looking at this verse, your first thought is probably about the plight of the father who has a foolish son and a nagging wife. But remember that Proverbs was written to young people about wise living. Most likely, the young man will one day have a son and a wife. From that perspective, it is a caution for young man to be wise in choosing a wife and in how he raises his children. What qualities should a woman have – in this case, not have - before you take her as a wife? What steps as a father should you take to ensure you do not have a foolish son?

--------------------

Related Scriptures: Proverbs 19:18;13:24; 22:15; 29:15-17; 18:22; 31:10-31

--------------------

“My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.” -Winston Churchill

Proverbs 17:27-28 “Cool Silent Wisdom”

“He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”

Here are two ways to show yourself wise.

1. The first way is by controlling your tongue. The wise man uses his words sparingly, taking time to consider what to say before saying anything. When he does speak, the words have purpose. Never underestimate the power of silence. It is so powerful, that even a foolish person may be considered wise if he holds his tongue.

2. The second way is by having a “cool spirit”, i.e. not being given to anger but having a good temper. This is controlling your actions, or better, your reactions.

Of course, both ways of showing yourself wise are related. Indeed, find a man who controls his tongue, and you will usually find a man who controls his temper, and vise versa.  Why is this? Because both require self-control and both require you to pause and think first.

--------------------

Related Scriptures: Proverbs 15:2; 16:32; James 3:4-10

--------------------

“A cool head with a warm heart is an admirable composition.” –Albert Barnes