💰 Proverbs 13:22 | "A good man leaves..."

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Happy Monday, {{first_name | everyone}}!

This week, we’re memorizing a verse from Proverbs about leaving behind an inheritance.

Regardless of where you are in life — even if you don’t have children, grandchildren, or money — don’t tune out. God has something for you this week, and I pray that you would have ears to hear it!

In today’s email…

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A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,

but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

Proverbs 13:22

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Proverbs is a wisdom book.

This is not to be mistaken with a rulebook or a list of promises.

It’s a collection of ancient, God-breathed insights meant to help us live well in God’s good world.

And Proverbs 13:22 is one of those small verses with big weight:

Let’s say that again — “A good man leaves an inheritance…”

It’s easy to read this at the surface level and focus on the money.

But the beauty of the Proverbs is that there’s often a message under the surface for us to take away.

This isn’t just about money. It’s about thinking long-term. It’s about living generously and wisely, with the next generation in mind.

That word inheritance in Hebrew (nāḥal, pronounced naw-khale) doesn’t only refer to material wealth.

It’s legacy.

We’ll look closer at the actual Hebrew on Wednesday, but this verse is referring to land, reputation, faith, character.

Things that outlive you.

Solomon, the author of this proverb, wasn’t just the wisest man to live; he was also one of the wealthiest.

But even he knew: We humans tend to think short-term. But what God wants to do is multigenerational.

God chose a multigenerational family through which he would redeem all of creation.

The warning

The second half of the verse is the common warning stanza in wisdom literature.

According to Proverbs 13:22, wealth gained by sinful means doesn’t last.

It slips away, often landing in the hands of the righteous who know how to steward it well.

So we’ll spend the next few days learning:

We’re excited to spend the rest of the week uncovering the depth of wisdom contained in Proverbs 13:22.

Let’s all do the following to prep for the week:

📖 Read: Proverbs 13 in full. Get the full flavor of the chapter. Notice the contrast between the righteous and the wicked, the diligent and the lazy, the long view vs. the short view.

🧠 Memorize: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…” (Prov. 13:22a) Just the first part for now. We’ll build on it tomorrow.

🙏 Pray: “God, I want to live wisely. I want to think beyond today. Help me see money not as mine, but as something entrusted to me. Give me a heart that wants to bless my children and their children. Show me what kind of legacy You want me to leave.”

💻 Watch: The Bible Project’s video on wisdom literature (link)

This is a sweet song to fight against the anxious, fearful, and worrisome thoughts that often revolve around the topic of money.

It’s always been a calming song that reminds me of the important role trust plays in faith.

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A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,

but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

Proverbs 13:22