SAYING 5 – Prov 22:28
“Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.” Prov 22:28
Unless you have had a literal boundary dispute chances are you think this piece of wisdom is irrelevant to you but principles of wisdom have far ranging consequence and implication.
Like many other issues, at the heart of the matter, we find a matter of the heart. This saying was given for the protection of established boundaries (Deut 19:14) and anyone shifting them was cursed (Deut 27:17). There was apparently a practice of people slightly shifting the boundaries on land during the night. People may miss such deception but God would not. Such boundaries were as simple as stones and simple deceptive moves could rob someone of their rightful property and logically given time rob generations of their inheritance.
Deceptive practice in life, in business, in relationships destroy lives. God himself compares evil princes he opposed with those that moved these ancient boundaries (Hos 5:10). Make no mistake, God will oppose you if you live deceptively, God opposes the proud (James 4:6)
Integrity in every area of life is crucial.
Do you want favour with God? Then live with integrity, be truthful, give your best for what you are paid and pay what is owed for work.
Prov 11:1 says
“The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favour with him.”
Prov 16:11 implies that when we rob a person, it is like robbing God. He owns it all so if we are dishonest we are taking what is not ours.
The Apostle Paul says in 1 Tim 6:9 – 10
“...those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Tim 6:9 – 10)
As a Christian our hope is not found in what is temporal, what is here today and gone with the next recession or with the passing of time. Our hope is anchored in eternity, in what Christ has done (Heb 6:19). No body or circumstance can steal what you have stored up in heaven (Matt 6:20), find contentment in Christ and where has placed you (1 Tim 6:6 – 9)