Proverbs 15:17

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about having possessions with and without love:

Proverbs 15:17 (ESV)

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

This proverb is a contrasting proverb.  The contrast here is that there are those who come from a place where they have and show love vs there are those who come from a place where they have some type of hate.   God is making the point through Solomon's proverb that it is better to have little, or something "bad" (vegetables), than to have hatred with something good (fattened ox).   God uses the argument of meat vs. vegetables in the same way He compares love vs. hate!   But,the truth of the proverb is that it is better to have a little in regard to material things where love is present, than to have much with no love.   Love is the element that makes all material goods worth while.  Without it, no matter the amount, material goods are wasted.   A fattened ox served with hatred is trumped by raw vegetables if they are sautéd in love.   A small dish with love trumps a large plate with hatred. In our relationships with others, it is better to have less, with love present, than more, with love absent.   We can often focus on the content of a relationship rather than the character of relationships. Paul said it this way:

Hebrews 6:10 (ESV Strong's)

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

God will see both our work and our love.  But, one without the other is dead.