Proverbs 11:28, “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”
Do you want to thrive or take a dive in life? I believe most sane people would honestly answer, “thrive.” However, if most people would rather thrive than fall, why are more people pursuing and trusting in their riches rather than righteousness? There should be millions of more people reading their Bible, than playing the lottery. The masses should be lining up for church, like how they line up to go to work to make a paycheck. Sunday morning should be the busiest day on the roads!
Sadly, in our culture the emphasis for a good life is on having riches rather than righteousness. Yet, without God, our riches will lead us to fall into eternal destruction. Surely, God wants us to thrive in life like a fruitful vine but He wants us to do it His way. God’s ways not only lead to temporary benefits, but eternal rewards.
Our culture promotes exalting people to the top who have the most money, but they hardly every promote those who are righteous. Think about it, when was the last time you saw in business, media, politics or entertainment the applauding of “righteous people,” i.e., “those who live according to God’s word?” Consider this example, would you rather be married to a millionaire who cheats on you and neglects your family or a righteous manager at McDonald’s who loves you and your children? If you would choose the righteous manager then why doesn’t the rest of the world promote righteousness? Riches have deceived our culture.
Certainly, Christians can be both successful and righteous, but we should root our lives in the Word of God to truly thrive and avoid idolatry and greed. Billy Graham said “There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.” King Solomon is giving us a stern warning, “don’t trust in riches, but trust in the righteousness of God.” Paul taught that we became righteous in Jesus. He wrote, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Therefore, if you’re not living a righteous life by God’s standard and are trusting in your money to give you a good life, you are going to fall. Your fall may be in your marriage, with your kids or with your inner peace, but no matter what, you will fall in this life. Plus, one day you will fall from God’s judgment throne into the pits of hell. Jesus said you cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). Nothing you can achieve in this life can compare to the treasures of heaven and the pains of hell, so choose heaven.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 that when we seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, we’ll have everything we need in this life. David also said in Psalm 1, that the godly will flourish like a tree planted by the waters, bear fruit in season and our leaves won’t wither. Put God and His righteousness first in all you do and you will thrive everyday you’re alive!
Reflection
Action
- Remove any trust you may have in riches.
- Place all your trust in God and seek His righteousness. “In God We Trust.”
- Live your life thriving with God!
