Scriptures Weekly 72 - God Takes Care of His

Proverbs 10:2-6

"Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,

But righteousness delivers from death.

The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish,

But He casts away the desire of the wicked.

He who has a slack hand becomes poor,

But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

He who gathers in summer is a wise son;

He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

Blessings are on the head of the righteous,”

Ill-gotten gain is worthless, the righteous are never hungry, and the righteous and diligent people are always blessed with wealth; is that really what Solomon meant to say?

We know good people suffer. In fact, Peter wrote, 

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you…However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Peter 4:12, 16).

We know trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword exist for Christians as well as those alienated from God for we are given the assurance that even these things will not separate us from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:35).

How then should we understand the words of Solomon?

Jesus said, with concern for food, clothing and shelter, 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).

By faith we know that even with suffering the Christian life is the best life now and forever.

Brother, David Bearden
2014