The book of Proverbs continues to instruct us on how doing good brings blessings, while seeking mischief brings a man trouble. If we listen to the good advice in the Bible, we will find favor, not only with God but man as well.
The New Testament lists having a good report from those without (those who are not Christians) as a requirement for the office of a bishop (an overseer). The Lord is calling men and women to be leaders in His kingdom; and to qualify we must be good witnesses to those who are in the world.
"Moreover he (a bishop) must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
Verse 28 warns us that those who place their trust in riches will fall. There is no security in this world, but God's people are promised to flourish in spite of what is going on around them, as they have the life of God in them and He will sustain us in any economy or circumstance. Many rich men are miserable this very day, as the crumbling world economy has left them stripped of many years of hard work. The book of James speaks of this very thing.
James 5:1-5:
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
Wicked men shall lose what they have heaped up in the last days before the return of the Lord. If we have looked to the things of the world for our security, we need to repent and turn to the Lord and trust Him to care for us. There is coming a day soon when the wealth of the wicked shall be given to the righteous who will use their wealth to get the gospel out to the whole world before the coming of the Lord.
Haggai 2:7-9:
7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
Psalm 112:1-3:
1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Proverbs 13:22: "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just."
The Lord is going to have a people who are seeking Him and His righteousness, for they will be the ones who shall have His blessings. Please note that these people will not be seeking the blessings, but will be seeking the God of blessings! They will desire His righteousness above all material blessings. His righteousness is the greatest blessing any of us could have. No money can purchase that blessing. We only obtain it by committing to the Lord and daily following Him and obeying Him in everything. The prophetic word in Isaiah shall come to pass for these people even as Proverbs 11:28 says they shall flourish like a branch.
Isaiah 61:3-9:
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
May we all prepare for this day by asking the Lord to cleanse us and give us His righteousness in all of our ways. Every Christian shall be a Priest and a Minister as we share the gospel in homes, businesses, and places of influence.
