Laws from Heaven for life on earth
Prov.11:23-31
Proverbs 11:23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
What do you want out of life ? That is a pretty general question - but it is the one that is addressed in this proverb. The thing is that in this study we are looking at what people want from the perspective of God, not just what people or the "market" wants.
From God's standpoint we are going to watch Him put both the righteous and the wicked man into the balances, weigh them and their choices, and state what each gets. First we see that God places the righteous into the scales. He says that the righteous man's desires are good. This coincides with what Jesus says in the Beattitudes. In Matthew chapter 5, we read the following, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matt. 5:6
God not only is pleased with those who hunger and thirst for what He says is right - He promises wonderful levels of satisfaction for those who do. There is also another statement made in the Psalms that when we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart - Psalm 37:4-5. It is so important to know that when we are living for righteousness and pursuing what is right - God helps us to enjoy this as much as we want. That is why He says here that these kind of desires are "only good."
The wicked, though, have no such guarantee. We read that the expectation of the wicked results in wrath. It is helpful for us to see that word "expectation" here. The reason it is so important is because often what the wicked desire will seem to give them an immediate positive feeling.
The Word of God speaks of God's "judgments." These are the result of that God has said concerning certain behaviors in life. When we choose to disobey God and embrace our fleshly lifestyles we do so because of the expectation of pleasure and immediate satisfaction. The problem is that God has said what His response will be to such things. These are His judgments. He says that problems will result - disasters are on the horizon - and blessing will be forfeited. These judgments will come upon those who choose to disobey what God says. They can expect the wrath of God when they rebel. God has made this very clear when He said in Romans chapter 1, "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth with their unrighteousness."
God's attitude and actions toward ungodliness and unrigteousness have been settled from eternity past. Those who reject Him and His Word need to know that He has prewarned the results of such behavior - and it has never been good. However the truly wise man knows that blessings await those who embrace righteousness - but for those who chose a wicked lifestyle - only wrath awaits them.
A righteous man desires good things for others and for himself that the wicked cannot even know. But this study is not how men desire different things – this study is what righteous men receive contrasted to what wicked men receive. A righteous man desires a blessed life, and he gets it. The wicked man desires a blessed life, but he gets judgment instead.
Solomon described the expectation of the wicked elsewhere. “The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish” (Pr 10:28). The future of the righteous is blessed; the future of the wicked is cursed.
A righteous man delights himself in the Lord, and God gives him the desires of his heart (Ps 37:4). He walks uprightly by doing the will of God at all times, and God does not withhold any good thing from him (Ps 84:11). He lives a godly life, desiring and trusting God to have mercy on Him and bless his efforts. God favor the cause of such men, and they reap results that are only good in this life and the next.
A wicked man thinks he will live indefinitely, and he pursues his goals without regard for God, confident in himself and the world’s vain promises. He is shocked with the trouble he endures in life, and then he dies to find his expectations turned upside down. He cannot take anything with him, and he finds God angry with him for eternity (Rev 20:11-15). This is a terrible outcome, but it is what he chose by living a selfish, sinful lifestyle.
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. (Prov.11:24)
No business school in the world is advanced enough to teach this law of economics. This proverb is a financial secret from the God of heaven for His people - Giving away financial assets will increase your net worth, while holding back money leads to poverty. From a worldy point of view this is nonsense.
If you want a wealth-building secret from God and King Solomon, here it is. Here is advice, not to invest money, but to give it away. That is right; you read it correctly; give your money away to get ahead financially.
This proverb is not to donate to a desperate charity or greedy televangelist. It is an axiom of wisdom from the wisest and richest King that ever lived. He taught elsewhere to cast your bread upon the waters by giving it away, for it will come back to you sometime in the future by God’s blessings (Eccl 11:1-6; II Cor 9:8-11; Phil 4:17-19).
Solomon compared two men in this proverb. The one man scatters his money by giving it to godly causes, and he increases in financial prosperity. Though he is giving money away, his accounts keep growing. The other man hoards and protects his assets by not giving when he should or as much as he should, and he gets poorer and poorer.
Fools scorn God’s wisdom. Foolish people laugh at such preposterous ideas. How can you give away funds and increase assets? Their minds are limited to the maths taught by their earthly teachers.
Abraham, Isaac’s father, gave away a tenth of everything to God’s priest after a great victory (Gen 14:20). He became very rich, in spite of moving six hundred miles from home, without knowing where he was going and also he was moving to a strange land where he did not know anyone or anything (Gen 13:2,6). But he increased by the blessing of God for honoring God with a tithe.
Jacob, Isaac’s son, moved to a new country with only a staff in his hand, but in 20 years he was so rich he had to travel in two companies (Gen 32:10). And this occurred in spite of discrimination against him by his employer (Gen 31:7,41). What was his secret for financial success? Give away 10% of all income (Gen 28:22).
You cannot afford not to give! Your situation will go from bad to worse, if you continue to rob your Creator (Mal 3:8-11; Gal 6:7). It is better to live on 90% of income in the will of God than to miserly steal His 10% and live in rebellion.
Humble yourself; choose wisdom, and increase.
Israel once thought it was financially wise to build their own houses first, but God blew against their efforts and put holes in the bags where they kept their wages (Hag 1:1-11). Do you have holes in your bags, reader? You cannot mock God; He will take you to poverty. Does God truly bless giving? Indeed He does (Pr 3:9-10)
How can the Lord increase a man who gives his money away? He can raise his income, lower his expenses, change tax laws, arrange gifts, grant favors, defer liabilities, extend the life of as-sets, preserve health and strength, open doors of opportunity, multiply efforts, provide bargains, give wisdom, attract customers, and many other things.
How far does this rule go? God dares you to try to outgive Him! He told Israel He would open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing they could not receive, if they would simply bring their tithes and offerings to Him (Mal 3:7-12). He can give a good measure, press it down, shake it together, and pour it over the top (Luke 6:38). He dares you, reader. The God of heaven dares you to try to outgive Him.
There are two conditions for God’s rich blessings on giving: you must give generously, and you must give cheerfully (Pr 11:25; II Cor 9:6-7). If you are stingy, God will be stingy to you. If you are generous and liberal, He will be the same in dealings with you (Is 32:8). If you are not cheerful and excited about giving, it is all a waste for God loves cheerful givers. Giving is an act of worship, and you should do it with joy (Deut 28:47).
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
– Proverbs 11:25
The issues of money and finances are mentioned some 2,300 times throughout the Bible. Many people in our society try to hold on to as much of their wealth as possible, but God blesses those who give freely of their time, talent and treasure. We need to remember that everything we have belongs to God. We often lose sight of the fact that it is God who gives us the ability and opportunity to make a living and think we have achieved our success through our own hard work and talent. We gain a right perspective on our possessions when we learn to give back a generous portion to God and to others in need. When we give generously, God often supplies us with more so that we can give more. What do we gain by giving? We are not always rewarded monetarily, (though sometime that happens), but we are rewarded in many other ways: freedom of enslavement from our possessions, the joy of giving (helping others). In our culture, finances are such an integral part of daily life that we really need to understand how to manage what God has given us.
Our giving reflects our God .Among the many Proverbs that address our proper handling of the things that we possess, we see the consistent principle: that our giving displays what we believe about the One who has given us all things. This proverbs teaches that this good and generous God will ensure a divine recompense for the righteous person who gives both cheerfully and wisely.
In an agricultural society, where grain was a major means of exchange, the hoarding of corn could drastically effect prices. The person who sold his grain and did not hoard it was a blessing to others and would be blessed by God Prov.11: 26 . We might compare this today with some-one who is more concerned about his wages than he is in what he can contribute to those he is working for. Do right, and you will win friends; look for trouble, and you will find it (v. 27).
He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf. Proverbs 11:28
What makes you feel safe and secure? What do you rely upon to make you confident about these things. Have a look at this proverb and we will see how two types of people seek security and safety, but how only one of them will truly obtain it.
Our proverb tells us of a man who "trusts in his riches." This man feels secure and safe - without fear - as a result of his riches. He may have a bank account that is full - a set of stocks that are the best on the market in returns - plus a business that assures him of success in life for years and years to come. This is what makes him feel confident - his wealth. Here is the problem with this man. This proverb tells us that the one who trusts in his riches will fall. This word is a very frightening one. It means to fall down to a prostrate position. Here it has the idea of being overthrown. The overthrow described here is death. Regardless of what amount of money you have - and how secure that you think it is - your money will not survive your death. In Psalm 49:5-9 we read the following, "Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me, even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches? No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him— for the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever— that he should live on eternally, That he should not undergo decay."
The man who trusts in his wealth - who thinks that the abundance of his riches will rescue him from death and from the punishment due for his sins - is in for a tremendous amount of disappointment. The day will come when he will stand on the same footing as any other human being - and have to give an account for his sin. If anything, the fact that he has wealth and riches will make his judgment even more stringent. Jesus said that to whom much is given - much will be required. The man who trusted in his riches rather than trusting in Jesus Christ - will end up in the lake of fire for all eternity.
The righteous are contrasted with this unwise rich man. In fact we are told that the righteous man will flourish like a green leaf. This is the man who realized that there is no amount of money that could ever pay for the blessings of God. His desire to please God and to honor Him will make this man do everything in his power to obey God. He knows that the man who will flourish in this life and stand in the next is the man who has been justified (made righteous) by faith. Thus his life is not spend trying to earn God's favor and love - he knows that such things have already been purchased by the blood of Christ. His desire is rather to listen to God - walk in fellowship with Him - and - out of that fellowship enjoy spiritual growth. This is why he will flourish like the green leaf. He is not trusting in growing himself. He trusts in a God who blesses him first with righteousness to stand in His presence - and then trusts Him to lead him in the way that will glorify God in all that he does.
What are you trusting to make you secure? If you think your security depends on how much money you have here in this life - or how great your wealth and insurance coverage is - you will lose everything.. If you grasp that the clear and present danger is the wrath of God for sin - you will choose the way that will make you stand righteous in that day - and that righteousness only comes through the gospel - and the gift of it by God in response to repentance and faith in those who believe on Jesus.
He who troubles his own house will inherit wind, And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted. Proverbs 11:29
There is a foolishness that harms our homes. It is not a foolishness that comes from outside of our homes - it is one that is within them. We are warned in today's proverb about a person who troubles his own house. We are warned against such behavior because we will not be blessed in the end.
What does it mean to "trouble" ones own house? The word here means to stir up, to disturb, or to bring calamity. Someone can trouble their own home by being a constant source of fighting and conflict within it. When there is a member of a household that constantly fights with the others - the home is troubled and continually disturbed. But other things can trouble a home. Anyone guilty of disboedience to God, rebellion, selfishness, carelessness, covetousness, or cruelty - will bring serious problems to their family. It is well known that a home can be a harmonious place to live - or a torturous one - those who act in this way will inherit wind in the end. This is a picture of nothingness - of an empty inheritance at the end of life.
One biblical example of this is the home of Issac and Rebekkah. These two had ways that they troubled their own home. They both had their favorites which eventually led to a home divided. Rebekkah eventually allowed her feelings for Jacob to bring her to a point where she involved him in a plot to deceive her husband. Jacob complied and wound up with the blessing - but later had to flee the home because his older brother harbored thoughts of killing him. This led to Jacob leaving the home . Rebekkah did not know that this would not be a short trip - and never saw her son again. She troubled her home with her plot, and inherited the wind in never seeing her son again. Jacob's deceit came back on his own head when he went to work for Laban - who deceived him multiple times.
The second half of this proverb also warns that the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted. The fool will continue to walk according to his folly - and will waste his wealth and his opportunities to lead effectively. As a result someone who is wise in heart will eventually be the one in charge. The fool will then have to take his place as a servant. Saul and David are an example of this proverb. Saul began his life well - serving the Lord and being His instrument of deliverance for Israel. But soon Saul began to do foolish things. In time Saul and his family wound up being servants to David, who was wise in his choices and way of living. How this warns us against living for ourselves and our own desires, rather than living as a servant to others - a love slave to God - and finding His favor blessing us in every area of life.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Prov.11:30
What is a great life? A life well lived? A noble life with purpose and value? It is a man with this epitaph: “He loved God more than all others; he was a tree of life to all others.”
Are you a tree of life? A righteous man affects the lives of others for good. Are you a soul winner? A wise man will work to save the lives of those around him.
This proverb does not teach that a man can save a soul from eternal hell to heaven. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. The divine transaction that makes men accepted before God is only by His will, purpose and grace (Jn 1:13; 5:21; Rom 5:12-19; 9:15-16,21-24; Eph 1:3-12; II Tim 1:9; Heb 1:3).
Solomon did not have any vain idea like modern soul winners that he could fill heaven by getting men to repeat a little prayer. He never spent one minute writing tracts to the Philistines to scare them to live a god fearing life. . He wrote this inspired proverb to encourage God’s people to help each other advance in godliness, truth, and wisdom.
However proverbs does teach that wisdom leads to a God fearing life (Pr 3:18; 4:13; 8:35), and righteous men help others find it. Folly causes men pain and death, and wise men will help others out of it (Pr 8:36; 11:19; 13:14-15).
James described soul winning, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (Jas 5:19-20). True soul winning is of brethren, from error to truth, which is conversion. Only God can regenerate a man from death to life. Men need conversion many times, after God regenerates once.
Most of us think of soul winning as a New Testament concept, but a related idea exists in the Old Testament. It is found in Daniel 12:3, where God said, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." This verse spoke of the great reward for winning the lost. The phrase, "turning many to righteousness" means to turn many to trusting Christ as Saviour so that they might receive the righteousness of God. This is the requirement for eternal life. II Corinthians 5:21 says, "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." In this wonderful verse, "being wise" is made equivalent to "turning many to righteousness." God tells us in Romans 4:5 that our faith in Jesus Christ is counted in God's sight for righteousness. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Earn your epitaph, “He loved God more than all others; he was a tree of life to all others.”
A soul winner is wise because God says so. When all is said and done, all that really counts is what God said was important. A soul winner is wise because he will have God's praise and reward.
.One of the Bible’s leading authorities on soul winning was the apostle Paul. He wrote, “Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some” (1 Corinthians 9:19–22, NLT).
Paul lived in such a way that would attract other people to Christ. He sought to find common ground with anyone and everyone in the hopes of winning their souls for God’s kingdom. No one can deny the wisdom of his approach. If we desire to be one who wins souls, if we want to be wise, we will follow Paul’s example.
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner -Prov.11:31.
Your eternal reward or punishment – heaven or hell – will far exceed any earthly reward or punishment. But there are definite payments made to the righteous and the wicked in this life. The righteous should not despair that there is no reward for them now, and the wicked should not presume to think they can live today with impunity (I Pet 4:17-18).
Solomon wanted your attention – Behold! You should soberly consider God’s dealings with men. He will repay men on earth for their actions. You are not hid from His eyes; you are not lost in the crowd. The righteous will be blessed; the wicked will be punished.
Both the righteous and wicked suffer adversity on earth – so that natural men cannot discern God’s love or hatred (Eccl 8:14; 9:1-3). However, the Bible reveals very great differences, which natural men cannot learn. God treats the righteous and the wicked very differently. Spiritual men know this: they understand His present and future dealings.
God sends adversity in love to chasten and perfect the righteous (Pr 3:11-12; Ps 11:5; Amos 3:2; I Cor 11:32; Heb 12:5-17). His thoughts are only good toward them; He hears their prayers and gives them their desires (Ps 34:10-16; 37:4; 84:11). He blesses them with riches, or things better than riches, or both (Pr 15:16-17; 21:21; 22:4; I Tim 6:6).
Life is hard, but the righteous are loved now and later; the wicked are despised now and later. Though God presently loves and blesses the righteous, eternity is still the best view of life (Ps 49:1-20; 73:1-28; I Cor 15:19; II Cor 4:17-18; Phil 3:18-21; Col 3:1-4).
One thing that is absolutely certain in life is that there will be a judgment once our life is over. Some may deny this truth - but their denial will not keep it from happening. This chapter of Proverbs that has often contrasted the righteous and the wicked, will do it one last time before closing. But the contrast here is in the reward or recompense that they will receive.
The proverb begins with a sure statement. The righteous will be rewarded in the earth! There will be a reward for God's people for their faithfulness to following and obeying Him. Over and over God has given us promises that if we will do something, He will reward us for doing it. Those deeds are characterized for us by the fact that God says the reward here is for "the righteous." Therefore if we value as right what God says is right - there will be great blessing in store for us. There is reward for doing right.
The flip side of this blessing and reward is punishment and recompense. If the righteous is rewarded for his doing of what is right - how much more will we not also see the wicked and the sinner recompensed for their opposite behavior.
