One of the wonderful things about Proverbs is that each verse can get us thinking about things that are nowhere to be found in the text–it pushes our attention beyond what is written. This one (Proverbs 18:11, ESV) says that "[a] rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination." On the surface, Solomon seems to suggest that a person who has gained wealth has put themselves in a good position–setting themselves up for a life free from worry. But is this what Solomon was getting at and is this how we should view wealth?
What is often overlooked about money is why it is valuable. The currency we hold on paper, plastic, or even digitally gives us power–the ability to buy things we need to survive and things we want to have for a more pleasing life. If money didn't give us this power, we wouldn't want it. There are still societies today that do not use money as we know it, where people use other means to exchange things for survival. But if you are reading this, you are likely in the wealthy half of the world and money is an important part of how your life runs–so, you need to know how to use this thing that gives you the power to live in the 21st century.
We seem to take it for granted that having money allows us to live without worrying about where our food and water will come from. This speaks to the vast difference between our day and Solomon's. Back then, when there was a famine, almost everyone had to deal with it. Now, if you are lucky enough to live in a country like the US, you may not even notice or care how crops do from one year to the next–it doesn't really affect you. Our money offers a sort of protection against the worry that has absorbed most of human history and still does in many parts of the world today. Perhaps this is what Solomon meant about wealth being a strong city: its protection.
But as one can see throughout history, strong cities often fall (however surprising their downfalls seem in the heights of their power). This brings us to consider Solomon's words from another angle. No matter how much comfort and security our money may give us, it could be gone in a moment–our grasp on our wealth is weak. But this doesn't have to be a scary thing for us. It could be liberating. It could be the catalyst to pursue that which isn't fragile–something strong, enduring, made to last. Where do we find such a thing?
There are several of Jesus’ teachings on money recorded in the Gospels that reflect the disadvantages of trusting in wealth. The most important teachings, I think, are about what we should value instead of money. In the sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples not to store up treasures here on earth, that they can only serve one master (or become double-minded), and that they shouldn't be worried about all the things they need money to buy. Instead, he tells them that they should have treasure in Heaven, and that they should seek after the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. If they do, they won’t have to worry about other things (the things people usually worry about).
When we take the words of Jesus and Solomon together, a clearer picture of wealth begins to develop. Sure, money can do a lot of things for us–it can generally grant security and peace of mind for a moment–but it is still fragile. It can be compared to a magnificent city. In our imagination, we can envision it as a high wall. But walls crumble and cities fall–often rapidly and without much warning. We may think our money can keep us safe, but without warning that could change. We must find something else to put our trust in, we must find something else that isn't prone to the same weaknesses as cash. Inflation may affect the purchasing power of a dollar, but it cannot affect the power of the kingdom of God. Nothing can and nothing will shake the kingdom of God—if we trust in it and not our money, fear won’t shake us either.
-Joel Fletcher