Social media today is filled with images of a seemingly luxurious life: expensive holidays, branded goods, and high-end lifestyles. This phenomenon is known as flexing, the desire to appear wealthy in order to gain recognition and validation. Ironically, many lack financial stability and are even willing to go into debt or take shortcuts, including fraudulent investments, to maintain this image. This constant interaction with the standard of luxury even triggers a psychological condition called money dysmorphia, which is feeling as though we are poor, despite actually having enough, simply because we compare ourselves to the illusions of others.

The book of Proverbs has long exposed this reality, “There are those who pretend to be rich, but have nothing; and there are those who pretend to be poor, but have much wealth” (v. 7). This verse is not just talking about the amount of wealth, but about honesty and integrity of heart. There are people who are ‘noisy’ on the outside, busy building an image, but ‘empty’ on the inside. Conversely, there are those who are "full", living in contentment and wisdom, without feeling the need to show off. Proverbs 13 also emphasises that true wealth is not built instantly. This is emphasised by the admonition, "Treasure that is easily acquired diminishes, but he who gathers little by little will make it grow" (v. 11). The wise man understands that wealth is both a blessing and a responsibility. He does not use it to provoke admiration, but to build a stable life and bless others. He accumulates with diligence, patience, and hard work, not through fragile shortcuts.

Friends of the Bible, the temptation of flexing is the temptation to seek identity from the recognition of others. But God's wisdom points us to a deeper identity: the value of our lives is not determined simply by what we put on display, but by who we are before God. Integrity, humility, and faithfulness are far more valuable than a shiny but false image. And so, when we stop trying to look rich, we begin to learn to be rich in the truest sense. Rich in character, rich in gratitude, and rich in generosity. We are no longer busy attracting attention, but start giving attention. Because in the end, a blessed life is not the most impressive life in the eyes of men, but the life that most faithfully flows blessings to others.

“Pride leads only to contention, but those who listen to counsel have wisdom” (Proverbs 13:10 TB2)