“In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.” Proverbs 14:28
Of all the riches a king enjoys, the most precious, and perhaps elusive, is the adoration and affection of his subjects. Force can produce submission but cannot provide warmth and friendship. In fact, as this passage goes on to say, the prince can retain all his riches but find himself completely miserable because he has no friends. So, how does this verse speak to your life today? Put simply, sin separates. People motivated by selfish aims eventually find themselves in isolation. This is actually a good gauge for self-examination. Are my actions leading toward increased fellowship and closeness to God’s people, or are my actions leading toward increased isolation? The answer to these questions is a great measuring stick as to whether honor or destruction is in our future. Don’t be deceived by sin. The sweet taste of forbidden love is replaced by the bitter reality of separation and loneliness. It is in the multitude of God’s people that warmth, honor, and joy is found.