We called them the Parshall sisters. They lived in a big corner house in the small town where I grew up. They walked everywhere, bickering as they went. Their clothes were worn and torn, and they wore too many layers for the Oklahoma heat. And…the Parshall sisters…were filthy rich! They had money to live in luxury but had a mindset of living in poverty. Here’s how Proverbs describes people who cannot appreciate what they have. 

Proverbs 19:10
It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.

Remember, a proverb is “a statement that reveals the actual nature of a profound truth by comparing it with common, picturesque, tangible images of life.” So, what’s the profound truth of this proverb? Here’s what I believe it is. 

When we trust in Jesus, the old is gone; the new has come. We are forgiven of our past and adopted into the eternal King’s family. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live a life of obedience. Our position in Christ gives us significance, security, and acceptance. We do not have to follow the instincts of our old lives.  

Felix was a Roman governor in Judea from 52-58 AD. You can read about him in Acts 23-24. Felix had once been a slave. His freedom was purchased, but he never quite got over being a slave. His leadership was marked by bribes, spikes in crime, and unrest in Judea. The Roman historian, Tacitus, described him as being “cruel, licentious, and base.” Tacitus wrote that Felix had “the authority of a king and the instincts of a slave” (Tacitus Histories). Today’s proverb would describe Felix as a fool. 

We now have a new life. We have been freed from the slavery to sin. So let’s not live by the instincts of our old lives. 

Father, may we be wise enough to appreciate and accept your rich blessings. May we be humble enough to submit to your leading. In Jesus’ name. Amen.