Commentary - Proverbs 15:16

Bird's-eye view

This proverb sets before us a fundamental, take-it-or-leave-it choice that every man must make. It is a divine appraisal of two competing portfolios, two ways of life. On the one hand, you have a modest, even sparse, existence that is nevertheless saturated with the fear of Yahweh. On the other, you have a vast accumulation of treasure, a mountain of assets, but it comes with a constant companion named Turmoil. The wisdom of God here does not equivocate; it declares the first option to be immeasurably superior. This is not an ode to poverty, but rather a lesson in true accounting. The world calculates value based on spreadsheets and bank statements. God calculates value based on the state of the heart before Him. The proverb teaches that the peace, stability, and quiet confidence that flow from a right relationship with God are themselves a treasure that no amount of material wealth can purchase, especially when that wealth is attended by the anxiety, strife, and agitation that invariably accompany riches sought apart from Him.

The central issue is the ultimate currency of the kingdom. Is it gold, or is it the fear of the Lord? Solomon, a man who knew more about "great treasure" than any of us ever will, gives us the inspired answer. The turmoil that comes with godless wealth is not just an unfortunate side effect; it is an essential part of the package. It is the rust that consumes, the thief that breaks in. Conversely, the fear of Yahweh is not a grim duty that makes poverty bearable; it is the foundational blessing that makes a little "better," that is, richer, fuller, and more secure than all the kingdoms of this world.

Outline

Context In Proverbs

Proverbs 15 is filled with these kinds of sharp antithetical pairings, contrasting the way of the wise with the way of the fool. This verse fits neatly into a series of "better-than" statements that force the reader to evaluate his own priorities. For example, the very next verse says, "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it" (Prov 15:17). And just a few verses earlier, we are told, "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight" (Prov 15:8). The consistent theme is that the internal state of the heart before God is what assigns true value to any external circumstance, whether it be wealth, food, or worship. This proverb, then, is not a standalone piece of financial advice but is part of a broader tapestry of wisdom that teaches that righteousness, love, and the fear of God are the ultimate assets.

Key Issues

The Great Audit

The book of Proverbs is intensely practical, and it functions here like a divine audit of two different life strategies. God, the ultimate accountant, examines the books of two men. The first man has very little in his asset column. His house is small, his portfolio is thin, his income is modest. By the world's standards, he is not much of a success. But in the central column of his ledger, the one that God looks at first, there is a massive entry written in bright, clear letters: "The Fear of Yahweh."

The second man's books look much more impressive at first glance. The asset column is overflowing. He has great treasure, multiple properties, overflowing barns, and a diversified portfolio that is the envy of all his peers. But God's finger traces over to the next column, and there He finds an equally massive entry, this one written in a frantic, agitated script: "Turmoil." And the divine verdict is rendered without hesitation. The first man is the rich one. The second man is bankrupt.

Verse by Verse Commentary

16 Better is a little with the fear of Yahweh...

The proverb begins by establishing the supreme value. The word "better" is a declaration of superior worth. What is this priceless commodity? It is "a little" that is accompanied by "the fear of Yahweh." First, let us be clear about what this fear is. In Scripture, the fear of the Lord is not the cowering dread of a slave before a tyrant. That is the kind of fear Adam had in the garden after he sinned, and it drove him to hide. The fear of Yahweh is the awe, reverence, and loving submission of a son to a righteous and holy Father. It is a clean fear, a glad fear. It is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10) because it is the beginning of seeing reality as it actually is. To fear God is to have Him at the center of your universe, to live and move and have your being before His face. It is to know that He is God and you are not. This fear, this right-ordering of reality, is what makes "a little" into something precious. It brings contentment, because the man who fears God knows that his life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. His security is not in his bank account but in the sovereign goodness of his heavenly Father. A little food on the table is a feast when you know it comes from His hand.

...Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

Now we see the alternative. The world offers "great treasure." This is the bait in the trap. The world screams from every billboard and television screen that more is better, that accumulation is the goal of life, that the man with the most toys wins. But God attaches a non-negotiable price tag to this treasure when it is sought apart from Him. That price is "turmoil." The Hebrew word speaks of confusion, agitation, and vexation. Why is turmoil the inevitable companion of godless wealth? Because the man who does not fear God must find his security somewhere else, and so he places it in his riches. But riches are notoriously insecure. They can be lost overnight. The stock market can crash, thieves can steal, rust can corrupt, and inflation can devour. The man whose security is in his wealth is therefore a man who is perpetually anxious. He is agitated in getting it, worried in keeping it, and despairing in losing it. His great treasure owns him; he does not own it. This turmoil also manifests as strife with others, born from greed and envy, and a profound internal confusion because he was made to worship God but is trying to worship money, and his soul is in a constant state of rebellion against its own design.

Application

This proverb forces us to ask a very pointed question: what are we really after? Our culture is a machine designed to produce discontentment. It is geared to make you feel that what you have is not enough and that you will only be happy once you acquire the next thing. This proverb is a direct assault on that entire system. It tells us that contentment is not found in accumulation but in adoration. The path to peace is not through a larger house but through a greater fear of God.

So, how do we cultivate this fear? The New Testament reveals that the ultimate expression of the fear of the Lord is found at the cross of Jesus Christ. There we see the terrifying holiness of God, a holiness that cannot abide sin and must punish it. We see the awesome justice of a God who would not spare His own Son. That should make us tremble. But at the same moment, we see the unfathomable love of a Father who would give His Son for us, His enemies. That should fill us with gladness and awe. The gospel produces in us the very fear this proverb speaks of, a fear that drives out all other fears. When you fear God rightly, you cease to fear poverty, you cease to fear the opinions of men, and you cease to fear the turmoil of this world.

Therefore, the application is not to take a vow of poverty, but to take a vow of allegiance. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. If He gives you a little, receive it with a grateful heart, knowing that with Him, it is more than enough. If He gives you great treasure, receive it with a trembling heart, knowing the great danger it represents, and determine to be a conduit of His blessing, not a reservoir of worldly security. In all things, measure your wealth not by the size of your estate, but by the depth of your awe for the God who saved you.