Thanks to a kind brother who shared this excerpt from a commentary on Ruth.
“And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.” Ruth 2:1
“Some allege that all men ought to be equal in wealth; but God maketh rich, and maketh poor. He gives to some men power to get wealth, and withholds that power from others. He enables some to leave wealth to their families, whilst the families of other men are left to struggle with all the inconveniences of poverty. “Who shall say to God, What dost thou?” or, Why disposest thou so unequally of thy benefits? “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.” He hath given the earth indeed to the children of men, but he was not bound to give to every one of them equal portions of it. If he has given us any portion of it for our necessary subsistence, we ought to be content and thankful. Still more, if he hath given us an ordinary portion of the comforts of life. If we are displeased because he has not given us so much as he has given to some of our neighbours, “our eye is evil because he is good.” What hast thou given to God? Verify thy claim, and thou shalt be recompensed. God will be in no man’s debt . . .
Our happiness is very precarious if it is placed either in our wealth or in our children. What multitudes of Abraham’s posterity are now in a wretched condition, although he abounded in wealth whilst he lived in this world! But he sought his happiness in God, and in the better country . . .
Yet let us not envy the rich. They have power to do hurt as well as good; and they can do themselves much more hurt than they can do to any one else. We trust too much to ourselves, if we think that we would certainly make a good use of riches if we possessed them. Even Solomon, with all his wisdom, found that his wealth was, in many instances, a snare. He did much good, but he also did much evil which would not have been in his power if he had been a poor man.”
Lectures on the Whole Book of Ruth to Which Are Added, Discourses on the Condition and Duty of Unconverted Sinners on the Sovereignty of Grace in the Conversion of Sinners, And on the Means to be Used in the Conversion of Our Neighbors. By the Rev. George Lawson, Minister of the Associate Congregation in Selkirk. 1805.
HT: D. Elmore
Rick Castorri says
Most interesting reminder, especially for our day!
Christina says
Indeed.