6  Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. 7-8 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father. Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. 10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless  will have a goodly inheritance. Proverbs 28:6-10 English Standard Version

There are many situations and things in life which, from the outside, look much worse that the situations other people are in, but which are actually far better. That was certainly true of the two individuals in vs 6. Here is a poor man struggling to put food on the table for his family, but he is an honest man. He has not resorted to stealing and he waits daily in the market place hoping (and praying) that someone will hire him for a days labour. In the same city there’s a wealthy man living luxuriously in a lovely home. But his wealth was achieved through devious ways. The writer says he is a 'crooked' man. Which of the two would you rather be?

Verses 7-8 take the picture further. If the fathers of the two people in vs 6 were God fearing people who treasured God's words, note the effect that the lifestyles of the poor son with integrity and the rich son, whose wealth came through crooked ways, has on their dads. (A footnote in the ESV Bible suggests that the phrase to 'multiply wealth by interest and profit' implies that it was charging of interest to the poor that was particularly wrong. It's not a sin to make a profit in business, but it is wrong if it has involved dishonest means and exploiting others.)

The father of the poor man can rejoice that, despite the hard times his son is going through, the lad has still clung to the wisdom and understanding that God's word brings. The father of the rich man may be deeply disappointed and ashamed by the like-minded greedy people his wayward son keeps company with.

What are the ongoing and eventual outcomes of turning ones ears away from hearing God's law, perhaps even from God fearing parents who tried to teach it to their child as he or she grew up? (vs 9-10)

If and when such an adult child decides to 'put a bit of religion' into their life – it will be worthless in the eyes of God. Jesus told a story of a proud pharisee and a tax collector who went up to the temple to pray. The pharisee boasted of his life, but the tax collector was deeply penitent and prayed for God's mercy. Jesus said: “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)

Verse 10 sums it up well. It's all about our ultimate inheritance. Many of the people who shut their ears to God's wisdom and His righteous laws are the people who tempt others into doing wrong as well. They may flash their money and their lavish lifestyles as being something better than holding on to integrity and God's truth in the world. Sadly, it can sometimes cause God fearing people to fall into a pit. But at the end of the day it is those crooked people who will themselves fall short of the inheritance the righteous will receive. It may look in this life as if ungodliness and greed is the best way to live – but God's word assures us that to walk in integrity because we love His laws is far, far better.