“Better is the poor that walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool” (Proverbs 19:1).

Two men and their families lived across the street from each other. How different their lives were. The man on the north side of the street was well-to-do. He and his family had the latest, the best, and the greatest of the goods that this world had to offer. He had something else as well. He had a mouth that was perverse and could be best described as the very mouth of Proverbs 19:1. This idea of perverse has to do with being twisted, distorted or crooked. Some of his funds were gotten illegally. He bragged about his ways of cheating here and there.

On the other hand, a man lived on the south side of the street. He and his family had little of this world’s goods. They worked hard to simply make ends meet. There were times that they had little in the bank, and most would consider them to be poor. But they had something that the wealthy neighbor didn’t have. They had it better! “Better is the poor that walks in his integrity.” This man was known far and wide for his honesty and integrity, and he had the reputation of being a trustworthy citizen. The writer of Proverbs tells us that this man’s life could only be described as “better.”

For today: By the world’s standards, you might not have much in the line of material wealth. But if you are walking in integrity, the Bible says that your life is “better”! Think about that today!