"Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death."
Proverbs 10:2
“Treasures of wickedness profit nothing.”
Isn’t treasure what everyone is searching for today? Doesn’t it seem strange that “treasure” could have no value? Until we remember that these “treasures” Solomon tells us of, have been earned by sinful means. They are the “treasures of wickedness” or “ill-gotten gains.”
“Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed?” (Micah 6:10).
The prophet Micah reveals that these treasures have been gained by wicked means, and God curses them. He is asking rhetorically, “Does the oppressor go on heaping up unjustly acquired spoil?” [1] And he is bringing up God’s law in Deuteronomy, where they are forbidden to have “divers weights” to short their customers when they buy from them. These, too, are wicked ways to get gain.
“Ill-gotten gains are literally “treasures of wickedness,” wealth obtained by harming another person” [2] (CSB).
And although “money is money,” those who obtain it sinfully will never be able to enjoy the profits fully.
“Of course, money acquired dishonestly may provide some pleasure and be valuable for a while, but in the long run, it does not satisfy” [3] (BKC).
“Ill-gotten gains give no true happiness” [4] (JFB).
“For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence” (Proverbs 4:17).
Jesus taught us to use this world’s goods, honestly. He said to send your treasures on up to heaven ahead of you, where they will be safely waiting for you.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).
Interestingly, when death comes for a man, his money, either honestly earned or ill-gotten, can never help him. Just ask the Rich Fool, Luke 12:13-21.
But righteousness delivereth from death.”
The only thing that can deliver a man’s soul at death is a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. True believers never put their confidence in their money, IRA’s, or even precious metals. Their trust is in the Lord. Believers have learned that –
“Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right” (Proverbs 16:8).
Believers should be learning the importance of laboring toward the eternal instead of the temporal.
“The labor of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin” (Proverbs 10:16).
“He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor” (Psalm 112:9).
God’s children may not be rich by this world’s standards, but they have what they need for this life and the next.
“Though the righteous may be poor, the Lord will not suffer him to want what is needful for spiritual life” [5] (Henry).
“Proverbs ascribes blessings to those who are wise, righteous, and faithful: They can find long life and success … while the wicked will be destroyed ….” [6] (FSB).
Quote: “The fellow that has no money is poor. The fellow that has nothing but money is poorer still” [7] (Billy Sunday).
[1] See CB, the Cambridge Bible, the electronic Bible notes in eSword.
[2] CSB, David K. Stabnow, “Proverbs,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 966.
[3] BKC, Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 925.
[4] JFB, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 394.
[5] Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Pr 10:2.
[6] FSB, John D. Barry, Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Pr 3:2. This note is from Proverbs 3:2.
[7] Sunday’s quote was downloaded: April 10, 2022. From: https://www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-topic/quotes-about-money/.