Proverbs 21:17 Commentary and Bible Study

In this life the rule that God has imposed on mankind is that without hard work there is no gain. If a person decided to short cut God’s method, resolved that they did not want to take the trouble to study, to be trained in some skill, or to work hard at their chosen employment, but instead avoided hardship, pursued pleasure, and aimed only to obtain the luxuries of life, then they would not get what they seek. Gain in this life is the end result of hard labour, and few obtain it who try to procure it in any other way. Some may inherit luxury and be born into worldly privilege but they are the exception rather than the rule. Most must learn that gain comes only as a result of work, and in many cases luxury will always lie beyond their means. They should instead be content with making a living and not loving the things of this life to excess. They should be thankful for what they have and see this as the goodness of God towards them. True riches belong to the world to come and before we can enjoy them, we must find salvation and patiently serve the Lord in this life. We must realise that the good things of this life belong to what is passing away, and we must seek something more lasting and substantial. This can only be received from the Lord. Every believer in God can obtain heavenly riches if they love and obey God in this life, but earthly riches and the desire to obtain them are a snare to the unwary. The Christian should be content with what God gives them whether it is much or little. Their aim should not be to find excessive comfort in this life but to wait for their good things in the world to come. Wine and oil stand for all the luxuries of life, as in Revelation 6:6. These things are a mirage that deceive the unwary. As they try to move towards them, they shift and disappear, being replaced by troubles that were out of sight before. This too is a judgment of God on the unbeliever, one which starts already in this life.