Proverbs 20:21 (ESV)
An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
We live in a world that loves things “instantly.” We want it NOW. We don’t like to wait. This includes everything from a burger to a flourishing business to a bunch of cash. Each state lotto is a billion upon billon dollar enterprise. Each week people pick a number and hope their ship load of money will come in the next Saturday night. We don’t have a lot of patience for getting what we want. Even if it is a traffic light and the driver in front of us does not move fast enough. We want what we want when want it. This is especially true of youth (although the aged have not learned much over the years). Children in particular want what they want. A baby cries if they don’t get feed when they want and how fast they want. When we feed them quickly to stop the crying, they learn that acting out gets them what they want. They cry at night and we let them slip in our bed to avoid the noise. The above proverb tells us the danger in this got-to-have-it-now as a life style. In particular Solomon is telling us about wanting an inheritance. We might wonder if Jesus was thinking of this proverb when He told the story of the prodigal in Luke 15? The prodigal wanted his take now and then ran off and fell amount pigs. When we rush after wealth, riches or whatever our inheritance holds, this proverb gives us great insight. Hastily running after something that is given to you will not last. Solomon is not telling us that an inheritance is bad. He is simply telling us that when we put it at the center to drive or desires we fail to see God and gather His wisdom. The entire book of proverbs is about gaining wisdom. This proverb is telling us that gaining wealthy, hastily, is the wrong way.
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