October 5, 2026

Business by the Book

Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

In this fourteenth chapter of Proverbs most of the verses compare two things. For example the very first verse of this chapter states: Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. The last verse (35) says: The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

In these verses like matters are compared. For example verse 20 teaches, The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. Herein is one emotion, hatred, compared with friendship. These are matters of spirit. Being poor and rich are also contrasted which are physical matters. Whether one considers the verse in light of the issue of spirit or physical there is a like comparison. Things of the spirit of man are compared with things of the spirit. Likewise, physical things are compared to physical. In each and every one of these twenty-seven comparative verses, the same type of matter is compared; except for verse 14, today’s verse.

In today’s verse the physical heart is compared to the spirit of envy. A strong physical heart gives life to the flesh by sending an oxygenated blood supply to it. If a fresh flow of blood fails to reach the flesh of the toes, the flesh around the toes will die. Somehow then, just as the strong heart gives life to the flesh, envy will cause rottenness in the bones. Proverbs 17:22 is a very popular verse: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. These verses teach us that there is a curious connection between the spirit of a person and their health.

What does this have to do with business? Guard against envy. Not only will this problem of the spirit result in bad decision making and possible alienation of friends and family, it may also cause rottenness in the bones. Which, of course, will affect the blood cells that are carried about by the heart which could result in sickness of the flesh. Basically there is nothing good about having rotten bone marrow. Nothing at all!

Dr. William Howe