One thing that I love about the Proverbs is that Solomon gives us the opportunity to see the difference between being righteous and being wicked. Now I am not saying that as adults we do not understand this concept, but I feel that sometimes we may forget in the heat of the moment. But the Holy Spirit is always there and ready to have us remember how the Lord blesses the righteous for being righteous. It is kind of like a flannel graph. You have heard the story and you know the story, but when the teacher puts the figures up onto the flannel board, then you finally remember. It sticks because it is finally laid out for you in a way that a child can understand. The Proverbs are a kind of flannel graph for the adult then.
"Treasures of the wicked profit nothing, but righteousness [moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation] delivers from death." Proverbs 10:2, Amplified
We will be given four different dichotomies in the next four verses. For the first we will see the protection of the Lord. The treasures of the wicked, in the original language, can actually be translated as an "armory". This armory that the wicked garner for themselves will actually save them from nothing. I imagine it a bit like the armory on a movie set. You can walk in and find all these beautiful guns, big or small, but they are filled with blanks. The treasures of the wicked offer up empty promises and false protection.
However, just being righteous will deliver one from death. There is no armory for the righteous. All that we need for protection should already be worn by the righteous Christian. "Finally brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on your breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench the the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." (Ephesians 6:10-11 & 14-17, NKJV) This is all we need to survive in the world today, just be righteous and the rest will follow.
"The Lord will not allow the [uncompromisingly] righteous to famish, but He thwarts the desire of the wicked." Proverbs 10:3, Amplified
The second example that we have is the provision of the Lord. If we are righteous we will not go without. This is a spiritual truth for the Christian to stand upon. My life verse is the perfect example for this truth. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for me with your whole heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13, NKJV) The Lord will always be there for us, no matter what is going on in our lives.
As for the wicked, their plans will be thwarted by the Lord. There has never been, nor will ever be, a promise that this will be instantaneous. David, when he wrote the Psalms, was constantly calling the Lord's attention to the prosperity of the wicked. The Lord knows what is going on, He understands that things are a little up side down in this world at the moment. But think of it like this: our Father is dealing with His children first. "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as sons: 'My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.' If you will endure chastening, God deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which you have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons." (Hebrews 12:5-7, NKJV) The rest of the world is like a bastard child and has no inheritance in the Lord. All His focus is on the righteous for the simple reason that we belong to Him.
"He becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand, but the hand of the diligent he makes rich." Proverbs 10:4, Amplified
The third example that we have is the prosperity of the Lord. The wicked are lazy and wish to do nothing more than sin. This verse reminds me of the movie Wall-E, where all the people of earth have become so disengaged in life that technology has taken over or them. They are so oblivious to what is going on around. Nothing good came out of that experience, nor will anything good come out of our experience in being lazy and idle. "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." (II Thessalonians 3:10, NKJV)
But the righteous man takes every opportunity to work. It has been said that idle hands are the devils playground. From experience I can attest that this is a true statement for myself. Keeping busy is the key for success. And being diligent for the sake of riches should never be the focus. Rather being diligent is a byproduct of righteousness. If one is not righteous then he will not be diligent.
"He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame." Proverbs 10:5, Amplified
Finally we have the produce of the Lord. There is a tie for harvesting and the wise son gathers that harvest in its time. We please our Father when we tend to the harvest and bring it into His storehouses. The righteous are ready and willing to gather that harvest. "Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'" (Matthew 9:37-38, NKJV)
The wicked do not wish to have anything to do with the harvest. For the harvest is work, it is sweat, it is tears. As children, we had three months of summer vacation, but as adults we need to get the idea of vacation out of our heads.
Our rest is coming. Now is not the time to sleep.
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