Tobit 4:17-21: a reflection

17Pour out your bread on the burial of the just, and give nothing to sinners. 18Ask counsel of every man who is wise, and don’t despise any counsel that is profitable. 19Bless the Lord your God at all times, and ask of him that your ways may be made straight, and that all your paths and counsels may prosper; for every nation has no counsel; but the Lord himself gives all good things, and he humbles whom he will, as he will. And now, my child, remember my commandments, and let them not be blotted out of your mind. 20And now I explain to you about the ten talents of silver, which I left in trust with Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages of Media. 21And fear not, my child, because we are made poor. You have much wealth, if you fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is pleasing in his sight.”

As Tobit gives his son parting counsel, believing they are poor and facing an uncertain future, he says something that redefines wealth. Fear not, my child, because we are made poor, he says; you have much wealth, if you fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is pleasing in his sight. The true wealth, Tobit tells his son, is not money but the fear of God; the one who fears God and departs from sin has much wealth, though he be poor in possessions. Godliness is a wealth greater than riches.

Notice how Tobit redefines wealth: the fear of God is a greater wealth than possessions. They were poor in money; yet Tobit tells his son he has much wealth, if he fears God and departs from sin. The true riches are not material, but spiritual: the fear of God, a life pleasing to him, freedom from sin. One who has these is rich, though poor in possessions; one who lacks them is poor, though rich in money. The fear of God is a wealth that poverty cannot take away, greater than any material riches.

That redefinition of wealth is worth taking to heart, for we can measure our wealth by possessions, forgetting the greater wealth of fearing God. We can count ourselves rich or poor by our money and possessions, valuing these as our real wealth; but Tobit says the fear of God is the true wealth, greater than riches. To fear God, to live pleasing to him, to depart from sin, is a wealth greater than any material riches, and one that poverty cannot take away. Do not measure your wealth only by your possessions, forgetting the greater wealth of fearing God; the one who fears God has much wealth, though poor in money. Value the true wealth of fearing God and living pleasing to him above material riches, as Tobit told his son he had much wealth if he feared God; for the fear of God is a wealth greater than possessions, which poverty cannot take away, and the one who fears God is rich indeed.

Lord, as Tobit gives his son parting counsel, believing they are poor, he says something that redefines wealth. Fear not, my child, because we are made poor, he says; you have much wealth, if you fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is pleasing in his sight. The true wealth, Tobit tells his son, is not money but the fear of you; the one who fears you and departs from sin has much wealth, though poor in possessions. Show me how Tobit redefines wealth: the fear of you is a greater wealth than possessions. They were poor in money; yet Tobit tells his son he has much wealth, if he fears you and departs from sin. The true riches are not material, but spiritual: the fear of you, a life pleasing to you, freedom from sin. One who has these is rich, though poor in possessions; one who lacks them is poor, though rich in money. Take that to my heart, for I can measure my wealth by possessions, forgetting the greater wealth of fearing you. I can count myself rich or poor by my money, valuing it as my real wealth; but Tobit says the fear of you is the true wealth. To fear you, to live pleasing to you, to depart from sin, is a wealth greater than any material riches. Keep me from measuring my wealth only by my possessions, forgetting the greater wealth of fearing you; the one who fears you has much wealth. Help me value the true wealth of fearing you and living pleasing to you above material riches, Lord, for the fear of you is a wealth greater than possessions.