Respect Over Wealth

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
RESPECT OVER WEALTH
Prov 11:16
16 A kindhearted woman gains respect,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
NIV
There is no doubt in my heart whatsoever that I have a kindhearted woman to walk through life with. She has not only the respect of all who know her but their love for her as well. I am certainly blessed by God by being her husband. Although our beginning was not what I would call the most righteous, I believe it is a match made in heaven. I don’t understand how that is true remembering the past but it is. Her heart is filled with kindness toward me as well as toward all who she encounters. It is simply her nature to be kindhearted. Now, I am not going to fit myself into the second part of this saying, as I am confident I am not ruthless for I have not gain only wealth, in fact I have not gained wealth. I live on faith and trust in my Lord for all I have, in that sense I am a man of great wealth, but I think this speaks about worldly gain. There is in a sense a parallel between kindheartedness and ruthlessness which could apply to all peoples. This would show the difference between those of the household of faith, whose hearts have been changed and who lives to serve God, and those who have hatred and defiance for the things of God and serve only their own self-centered interests. It is a simply contract between kindheartedness and ruthlessness, the benefit of one and the result of the other. If life were only about gaining wealth, what a waste it would be. No man can take his wealth into the everlasting presence of God; in fact no man can take his wealth into the place where he will perish. Worldly gain is only for the here and now. A changed heart from believing the Word of God and becoming kindhearted has far greater rewards. Yes my wife is a kindhearted woman, and I am not a ruthless man, but I am exceedingly glad we both are walking the same path of righteousness following our Lord and Savior. I will take respect over wealth any day.