Proverbs 15:6 (KJV)
In the house of the
righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
I want to begin my
lesson with something I found in my studies,
LIKE IN CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT UNLIKE IN CHARACTER[1]
I. The wicked and the righteous are often on a level as regards
material wealth.
One may have “much treasure” and the other great “revenues,” ….
The laws of nature have no respect to character.
God makes His sun to “shine upon the evil and the good, and
sendeth rain upon the just and upon the unjust”, so that the wicked man reaps a
harvest as abundant as that of the righteous man.
II. But though their possessions may be equal, there is a great
inequality in the enjoyment of them.
Character makes all the difference ... Even “a little that a
righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked” The wicked man is
troubled by a sense of being out of harmony with all that is holy, and just,
and true in the universe of God, and with a foreboding of future retribution.
The wealth of the spirit is so much more than material wealth as the spirit is
so much more than the body.
I use that to
demonstrate that there both comparisons and contrasts within this verse.
The world would focus on
the similarities and imply that there is no advantage (and many disadvantages)
to the Christian in this world.
I want to focus on the
contrasts which, I believe, point to much greater advantages to the Christian
than the non-Christian.
Notice first,
*I. A DIFFERENCE IN FOCUS
Proverbs 15:6 (KJV)
In the house of the
righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
“In the house” vs “in
the revenues”
I do understand that I
am speaking in general terms right now, but is there anyone who would deny that
generally speaking,
· Worldliness focuses on income, possessions and substance
while
· Righteousness focuses on relationships, family and
spirituality
How many people have we
witnessed who have lost their families because their priorities were things
rather than people?
· The guy who works so many hours he has no time for his kids
· The couple who put so much energy into getting a better
house they no longer have energy to put into their marriage
There is nothing wrong
with a good income and even much treasure.
The problem comes when
the priority shifts to the income and not the home.
Note secondly,
*II. A DIFFERENCE IN FAIR
Proverbs 15:6 (KJV)
In the house of the
righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
Treasure vs revenue
At least in my mind I
associate a treasure as more precious than even a very large income.
A treasure and a bank
account might technically be worth the same amount, but the treasure is more
valuable because it contains something worth more than wealth.
· It might be its antiquity
· It might be its rarity or
· It might be its history
Some things are a
treasure just because they are irreplaceable.
*There can be more than one sort of treasure.
· The relationship we have with a friend
· The children God has given to us
· The bond between a husband and a wife
These things are
valuable and also irreplaceable.
Notice finally
III. A
DIFFERENCE IN ETERNITY
Proverbs 15:6 (KJV)
In the house of the
righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
· Laying up treasure in heaven vs
· Living is torments in hell
The
house of the righteous easily reminds us of both
·
The house of God which is the local church[2]
and
·
The Father’s house which is heaven
I
think of two passages of Scripture:
Matthew
6:19-21 (KJV)
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:
For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
One of
the more interesting parts of this passage, and one we ought to meditate upon,
is that:
·
We are not only to lay up for ourselves
treasures in heaven –
·
Jesus said we are not to lay up treasures on
earth.
Luke
16:19-31 (KJV)
There
was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day:
And
there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of
sores,
And
desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table:
moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
And it
came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into
Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in
hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and
Lazarus in his bosom.
And he
cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may
dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in
this flame.
But Abraham
said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and
likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And
beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they
which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that
would come from thence.
Then
he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my
father's house:
For I
have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into
this place of torment.
Abraham
saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
And he
said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will
repent.
And he
said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
As far
as we can tell, the rich man had all he could have asked for while he was on
the earth – he had great revenues for sure.
But
they served him no purpose in hell.
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