Proverbs 14:11 Commentary and Bible Study

The substantial house of one is compared with the flimsy tent of the other. The result is contrary to expectation. It is the house that might be expected to survive longer, but the Lord’s providence works in the favour of his own, contrary to natural expectations. What counts far more than how substantial it is, is a factor that the unbeliever has completely left out of the reckoning, but which is all important as far as God is concerned. So important is it that it completely overshadows every other factor. Has the law of cause and effect been re-written? Yes, we might say that that is indeed the case when it comes to the plan of God and his purposes in the world. Of course the physical laws still operate and there is never a break in their continuity, but they operate at a much lower level than the spiritual laws by which God governs the world. This proverb then brings us an example of a principle that operates continually under God’s righteous government: the principle that whatever men and women do, the outcome of their lives is determined by their moral conduct rather than by any strict application of cause and effect operating in the physical world. This principle does not just apply to houses but to the success of relationships, to marriage, to the destiny of families, to schemes and projects, to plans and purposes; it applies to kings and princes, to masters and servants, to fathers and children, to rich and poor, to educated and ignorant in this world. Uprightness plays a far more significance part than any amount of worldly wisdom in executing plans. What then do we put our trust in, and what encourages or discourages us? A poor man who has not had access to any of this world’s academic institutions and who has not even been furnished with a mind capable of study but who loves the Lord and fears his commandments will prosper in the kingdom of heaven far more than the most brilliantly accredited student in this world. The kingdom of heaven is constantly exerting its influence on men’s lives even while that are subject to the kingdoms of this world. Let us therefore not worry about protecting our bank balance by all manner of cunning investments, surrounding ourselves with fall-back insurance policies to get us out of trouble, protecting our assets with umpteen security systems. All will avail nothing if we do not walk uprightly, since God is able to get through the strongest door and take all away from us whenever he wants.