Where is the Value? (Proverbs 20:14)

Have you ever downplayed the value of something just so you can get it cheaper?

"It is worthless, it is worthless! says the buyer; but when he goes his way, then he boasts [about his bargain]." Proverbs 20:14, Amplified

The Bible seems to make no indication that this is a wrong practice to take part in. The buyer, himself, sees the value in an item and downplays it to the owner. But I do have to say I do see that the buyer goes away boasting about his bargain. In other words, he tells everybody how he got over on a poor schmuck. To see the value in something and want it for cheaper is not a bad thing in and of itself. I am a collector of comic books and I always peruse garage sales looking for these little gems hoping that no one sees their value. It is an exciting feeling to get your hands on that hidden treasure, on that found thing. This is exactly why people want to brag about the bargain.

But I do not see this here in the verse. It seems that the language implies the buyer is telling the seller that his wares a no good. He wants a batter deal despite the livelihood of the seller. He is a miser who wants to press the value out of every penny in order to get over on everybody. His boasting may cause others to go to the same seller and get the same deal, thus stripping the seller of most of his profits.

Firmly Planted (Proverbs 11:28)

Riches can get you so far in this life, but what good are they to you after you die?

"He who leans on, trusts and is confident in his riches shall fall, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like a green bough." Proverbs 11:28, Amplified

Riches are not the thing that one should rely on at all. If anything, our economy at this moment in time has taught me that money is unreliable. But the human being is a very physical creature who tends to trust in what he can see. It is amazing though that man is putting his trust in something he truly cannot see. Most of the money in America exists as a blip on a computer screen. What man is placing his trust in is the effects of the money that he has, not the actual money itself.

But the righteous man places his trust in the Lord and he flourishes. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." (Psalm 1:1-3, NKJV) The righteous man knows where to place his trust and he flourishes as a result of that trust.

Notice the stark difference between the two: the man who trust in his money trusts the effects of his money, the man who trusts in the Lord his life is effected. Trusting in the Lord will always bring forth a change in the life of a person. Money, and it s effects, are based on an unstable economy. The value of money constantly changes but the value of the Lord has remained consistently the same throughout time.

The End is Already Written (Proverbs 6:12-15)

There are certain people in this world that are continually devising evil things. Their thought processes tend to sway toward evil. They continually make choices that are contrary to God. It seems as though these people eat, drink and breathe evil and wickedness. Though they seem to prosper, their end is near.

"A worthless person, a wicked man is he who goes about with a perverse [contrary, wayward] mouth." Proverbs 6:12, Amplified

To call a man worthless is quite a harsh thing to say. What would make a man worthless? Something that is worthless is something that has no value. But even this idea of value can be viewed two different ways. First is the monetary value placed upon the item. A car for instance; lets say that a person goes out and buys a brand new Corvette. They drive this Corvette all over then decide to park it. Let us say for the sake of argument that this person parks his car next to my Mazda. My Mazda was given to me for one dollar. It is not the prettiest car in the world but she does get me where I need to go. Any person walking by our two vehicles can look and place a value on both cars. They would automatically assume that the Corvette was the more valuable of the two vehicles and they would be right.

Secondly, there is a value placed on things simply because they are important to the person. My comic book collection is not the most intricate or most expensive, but to me, it has tremendous value. I have spent a lot of time and effort to acquire these comic books and have constantly tracked their value. To me they are valuable because they are a passion of mine. I love my comic books.

Now the worthless man would fall into both categories. He was neither bought with the blood of Jesus nor is there any intimacy between him and the Lord. The Lord has not spent any real time with the worthless man for Him to have placed any value on him. The man's own wickedness has kept that value from being placed on himself.

"He winks with his eyes, he speaks by shuffling or tapping with his feet, he makes signs [to mislead and deceive] and teaches with his fingers." Proverbs 6:13, Amplified

Even the very body language of the worthless and wicked man. The wicked man does not even need to speak to lead someone astray. Winking with the eye has always been linked to deception. Shuffling or tapping of the feet speaks of a person way of life; where they go and what they do. The making of the signs is something not mentioned in the original text, the wicked man also teaches with his finger. He points and directs people astray, not with words but with gestures.

"Willful and contrary in his heart, he devises trouble, vexation and evil continually; he lets loose discord and sows it." Proverbs 6:14, Amplified

Again, this is a reiteration of verse twelve. Evil is a constant part of his lifestyle. But we have something new added. He sows discord. Discord is a form of confusion; it is taking two like minds and turning one against the other. Just think of it like that one friend who has driven a wedge between you and another friend vying for your attention.

"Therefore upon him shall the crushing weight of calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken and that without remedy." Proverbs 6:15, Amplified

Though the wicked man seems to be prospering, know that his end is already written. A man who devises evil continually will soon be consumed by it. This is a truism that even nonbelievers know and understand. His end is soon. I think of a couple individuals in the Bible when ever I read this verse and others like it. Ahithophel was King David's chief advisor, he was also the grandfather of Bathsheba. (II Samuel 11:3, II Samuel 23:34) When Absolom took the kingdom from David, Ahithophel also followed Absolom. Ahithophel advised Absolom on how to overcome his father. However, David had friends on the inside still and soon Ahithophel's advice was not being heeded anymore. Ahithophel killed himself, an end without remedy. Another person that comes to mind is Judas. After betraying Jesus, Judas hung himself for what he had done. An end without remedy.