Wealth by Vanity Diminishes; Labor Increases

Proverbs 13:11 establishes three foundational truths about riches. First, wealth itself is good—Elohim commands humanity to possess the earth and subdue it, and Scripture approves righteous acquisition. The sin lies not in money but in the philarguria (love of money), which is the root of evil.

Second, wealth arrives through two distinct paths: the way of mataia (vanity)—fraud, gambling, reckless speculation—or through honest labour, which Scripture commends repeatedly. The mode of acquisition fundamentally determines the outcome.

Third, what a man does not work for he seldom values. The proverb "Easy got, soon spent" reflects human nature: difficulty of attainment augments value. Spendthrifts undervalue money precisely because it cost them nothing.

Consider the historical example of M. Blanc, proprietor of the Homburg gambling establishment. He deposited 300,000 francs daily to cover the bank's losses. Yet the notorious Garcia broke the bank three days running. Within six weeks, Garcia's fortune reversed entirely—he begged M. Blanc for travel money to return home.

This principle extends to nations: ill-gotten dominion acquired through aggression, oppression, and injustice becomes an extension of danger under Heaven's righteous administration. When possessions violate equity, honour, and good faith—when they breach the royal law—a country transforms its glory into shame. Labour-earned wealth builds; vanity-gained wealth crumbles.