“There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.” (Proverbs 13:7-11, NASB)

Did you know there are riches our eyes cannot see? Worldly wealth—bank accounts, houses, cars, clothes, fame, and popularity—can make people seem rich, but it is deceptive. When we die and stand before God, none of it will follow us or speak on our behalf. In contrast, God promises true riches in heaven for those who live righteously before Him. Though unseen and untouchable, these rewards are eternal and will be given to the righteous. Here is a lesson that Solomon was trying to pass on in today’s reading. It says,

“There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth. The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hears no rebuke. The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked goes out. Through presumption comes nothing but strife, but with those who receive counsel is wisdom. Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it.”

Solomon saw that some people “pretended” to be rich but had nothing, and others “pretended” to be poor but had great wealth. What was he trying to convey with these words? It appears he was talking about human perceptions and how surface-level appearances can deceive our hearts about the realities of life. He was trying to expose the deceitful nature of people trying to keep up their appearances.

It hasn’t changed much since Solomon’s days, as people still try to “pretend to be rich.” People often exhaust their resources, going into debt to purchase the symbols of wealth, such as clothing, status, and lifestyle, to secure admiration or power. Consider the super wealthy people of today, such as Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk. People admire them for their rich and famous lifestyles, but if God suddenly changed the world’s currency from gold to righteousness, who would admire them then? What would happen to us if silver, gold, and dollars became useless as pieces of rock? Remember, gold will be nothing more than bricks God will use to pave the streets of heaven (Rev.21:21). On the other hand, “righteousness” will be the new currency in heaven where people get to wear as garments of light (Rev.19:7-8). What would happen to the rich and the wealthy in the world if Christ came and established this new world today? What would happen to all the faithful servants of God who lived, died, and rose again at his coming?

Don’t believe in the deceitfulness of the riches, as they will choke the life of faith of believers. This was one of the reasons why the seed that fell among the thorns did not produce fruit in the Parable of the Sower. Jesus said, “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mt.13:22). Satan even tried to tempt the Son of God with the deceitfulness of riches in the world. Matthew 4:8-9 says, “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory; and he said to Him, ‘All these things will I give You, if You fall down and worship me.’” The devil forgot the fact that Jesus had great riches in heaven but left it all behind to save humanity. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” He is now sitting at the right hand of God in power and glory, while the devil will one day be thrown into the Lake of Fire like rubbish.

The apostles of God share similar testimonies as they are promised many rewards in heaven, even though they pretended to be poor on earth. Jesus promised them, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first” (Mt.19:29-30). Regarding this, Apostle Paul testified, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim.4:7-8). How great is this? Our great fathers and mothers of faith lived pretending to be poor, but they will inherit great wealth from God. And the same rewards are promised to everyone who loves and hopes for Christ’s appearing! This is the promise of the unseen riches of the righteous! So, store your treasures in heaven with Christ and not so much in your earthly bank accounts.

• What do you think about Solomon’s paradox of true wealth in today’s reading?
• What makes us pretend to be rich when we have nothing?
• What makes us appear poor yet truly wealthy?