Proverbs 28:6 “Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.”
This proverb can be understood and applied in at least two ways. The first is towards myself: I am better off with less money and lower status if it is because I refuse to cheat, trample others, seek to exalt myself, and ruin my testimony. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36). The second application is in choosing leaders: A church or any organization is better off choosing the person who has deep integrity and is not preoccupied with himself, even though the resume of the rich and “successful” candidate may be very tempting despite character flaws. The blameless person must always be chosen over the perverse.
Father, please keep me on the road of integrity, truth, faithfulness, and obedience. I desire to be your good and faithful servant more than anything the world can offer.