A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.
An obvious application of this scripture has to do with depending upon material wealth for our security in life. There are other scriptures in Proverbs that address that topic (Proverbs 11:28, Proverbs 11:4). But the focus of this application is the power of, and sometimes the danger of our imaginations.
Imagination is defined as: forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses.
Because of his wealth, a rich man often experiences comfort, respect, prestige, and the ability to easily influence people and situations. The longer this happens, the more easily he forms mental images and concepts of his riches addressing different situations in life. As these situations come up, he “fills in the blanks” of his knowledge, with his wealth or the things it provides. He begins to depend more upon his resources and less upon the Lord who provides his resources. His fellowship with God diminishes. His mental images leads him down the path of sin.
In life we have a tendency to depend on our “riches” instead of God…our knowledge, skills, relationships with others, and desires. Sometimes our emotions, passions and natural inclinations lead us to “fill in the blanks” of situations and “form mental images or concepts of what is not actually present”.
Have you ever fallen into sin because of a mental image you formed? Have you ever damaged a relationship because you “filled in the blanks” only to discover you were wrong in your assessment? Have your emotions, passions and natural inclinations led you to form mental images that led you to take actions that you later regretted?
Make a decision today to not be led by imaginations, but be led by the “washing of regeneration and renewal” of the Holy Spirit poured out on us richly through Christ our Savior. (Titus 3:3-7)