Proverbs 11:24 Commentary and Bible Study

Now follow three proverbs on our attitude to this world’s good, all three of which relate to the current theme: the reward of God on those who show a right attitude to this world, and the punishment of those who grasp it as their only treasure. Solomon starts by pointing out a curious phenomenon: those who make no effort to accumulate riches but rather do the opposite and generously scatter what they have to give to others are enriched by God, and those who withhold more than they should in an attempt to gain wealth are led into poverty. According to all the rules of business known to men, this makes no sense; whoever operates his business on this basis will soon be financially ruined, and yet it is the rule of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 10:39). Some believers are called to be businessmen and women, and although they operate their businesses with consideration for others, they do not strictly follow the principle set out here. The proverb instead describes the believer’s policy for life. Because he knows that this world and its goods are passing away and are not the ultimate riches but only tokens to be wisely used for in the service of God, he uses them for good whether or not that good involves receiving them or giving them away. He trusts God to reward him with something far better than this world can offer, and therefore he is happy to lose earthly riches in exchange for eternal riches which cannot fade away. Even in this world God’s providence rewards such sacrifices, but the ultimate reward is reserved for the world to come. The route to this reward is faith, and the unbeliever cannot walk this path for it seems to him to lead most surely to poverty; God’s higher laws are quite unknown to him. How fearful it is for the unbeliever to have providence secretly working against him, and to find that his best efforts to enrich himself are frustrated. For some this happens sooner because there is already a measure of judgment operating in the world, but eventually all discover this principle to be true.