This morning we have set before us a verse that talks about prosperity. On the one hand you have a righteous man, and the verse tells us that in his house, there is much treasure. The righteous man is a prosperous man.
In the second half of the verse we read of the unbeliever. He’s got some prosperity too. He has an income, and it may be that the wages that he’s earning are pretty good. But money isn’t the only thing he’s got, of course. He’s got a lot of trouble.
In the second half of the verse we read of the unbeliever. He’s got some prosperity too. He has an income, and it may be that the wages that he’s earning are pretty good. But money isn’t the only thing he’s got, of course. He’s got a lot of trouble.
To be sure, this is a proverb and, as such, it is descriptive. It is not telling us to go out and get much treasure. It is not a command. It is saying, “This is typically the way things are.”
And it says that in the house of the righteous there is much treasure. It is a statement of fact. It is a stereotype.
So what I want to do is analyze this verse and understand the treasures that a god fearing home has. What kind of treasures do we find in a godly house?
I. Treasure of financial wealth
I have to admit here that the commentators are fickle people. Many of those resources that I consulted went to great lengths to say that this verse does not deal with money. Their reason for doing so was because there are many people who are not wealthy who are Christians and they did not want people to have the mindset that God grants financial gain to you just because you are a Christian.
But the verse does deal with financial prosperity. This is a fact that is clearly evident in the text. The word “treasure” is used 5 times in the OT and it typically refers to financial wealth. It also stands in juxtaposition to the revenues of the wicked. So there is certainly a connection between the income of the wicked and the income of the righteous.
Truly, we recognize that there is more encompassed in the idea of wealth, which we will speak to in just a moment. But it should be expressed that, though financial wealth is not the sum and substance, and while it is true that few of God’s people will probably experience excessive wealth (and many may even be qualified as poor), those who are righteous will typically enjoy a competent portion of the good things of this life. We might even say that if we speak in a proverbial sense, the righteous person will often have a better financial standing than his unbelieving counterpart.
This accords with the rest of the teaching of the Scriptures, and especially the book of Proverbs, that those who are righteous will advance their estate. The fear of God produces diligence. God fearing people are serviceable to others, which makes them marketable. Add to that their economic wherewithal, which they’ve gained through the study of God’s commandments. In other words, they demonstrate character traits of contentment, thrift, and the ability to save money rather than impulsively spending it on things that are foolish.
I mentioned that the Scriptures speak to this. One such instance is Psalm 112. Psalm 112 talks about the man who fears God and it describes some of the main characteristics of his life. And one of the things that it highlights is his financial prosperity. It says, “Wealth and riches shall be in his house.”
Charles Spurgeon has a great little commentary on that verse. He says,
“Many of the best of the people of God are very poor; yet it has been found true that uprightness is the road to success, and, all other things being equal, the honest man is the rising man. Many are kept poor through knavery and profligacy; but godliness hath the promise of the life that now is." (Spurgeon, Treasury: Psalm 112:3)
Matthew Henry reiterates the same when he says, “Religion teaches men to be diligent, temperate, and just, and by these means, ordinarily, the estate is increased.”
When we look at the world at large, we find this certainly to be true. Those nations around the world that have been historically Protestant in their orientation are the nations that are the wealthiest on the planet. Those nations that are under the darkness of Islam, Hinduism, or some other such religion are awash in poverty. Even Catholic nations have not prospered to the degree that the Protestant nations have.
And what we find in the macro is often replicated in the micro. What goes on among nations is also what happens within neighborhoods. Those who practice godliness will typically build wealth and frequently enjoy the fruits of their labors. Those who are wise tend to be those who are wealthy. They may not become multi-millionaires, but they typically make some headway in advancing their financial estate so as to prosper and lay up an inheritance for their children’s children.
The puritans sometimes talk about a “disinterest” in money. And that is not to be taken to mean that they did not care about money or seek to acquire wealth. It is the idea of being not overly consumed with it so as to make money an idol. The disinterest in money was complimented by a grand interest in the glory of God. The puritans focused on how they may serve God and bring Him the most glory. And when you do this, you put yourself in a position to make money.
When you seek the glory of God you become more focused on helping others. Your life is not consumed with your own personal acquisitions. And, you know what, that is the key. As a matter of fact, I was researching this this week and I found an article that talked about the keys to building wealth. And one of the things it highlighted was this: that The right way to make money is not chasing it, but attracting it. Here is how the author describes the situation:[1]
“Money is like a mischievous cat; if you chase it around the neighborhood, it eludes you. However, if you ignore it and focus on what attracts the cat, it comes to you.”
How do we know if we chase money? A “money-chaser” asks these kinds of questions:
"How can I make money starting a business? How can I make a passive income?"
As you can see, the focus is on the money. Since money is the focus, they might even cut corners to get what they want.
What you should do instead is focus on solving people’s problems. Chase needs, not money. A business that solves problems attracts money.
The truth is: money is just a reflection of the value you give to others. So the more you solve people’s problems, the more money you will make.
Does this not summarize the essence of the Christian life? As a Christian, we do not chase money. We chase needs. We make it our aim to serve God and love our neighbor. And this article essentially says that this is the normal path to wealth.
So we may confess, yes, there may be many Christian homes where there is a great deal of poverty. But we may also recognize that, under normal circumstances and with God’s blessing, the god-fearing house will enjoy much treasure. And we should not shy away from acknowledging.
But while the treasure here certainly includes monetary wealth, it is not limited to it. Part of the wonder of this treasure is its breadth. And as we open this verse, we see just how robust this treasure chest is. Beyond financial treasure we have the treasure of peace
II. Treasure of Peace
One thing that characterizes a Christian home is its serenity. There is a wealth of peace that is enjoyed. This is not the way it is in the home of an unbeliever. Just look at the second half of this verse. It says, “But trouble befalls the income of the wicked.”
What do we see when we peek in the windows of the wicked. We see a lot of tension. There is a lot of drama. Sure, there may be a lot of treasure. They may be filthy rich. Some of the most wicked people in the world are living high off the hog. But there’s another thing that they have, and it is this: trouble. They are loaded with anxiety. They are always being annoyed with this or that. Their money may be plenty, but so are their problems. Their money is ends up being a nuisance.
Think of the story of Achan. When the Israelites fought the battle of Jericho they were not to take any spoil. They were to burn it all. They were not to touch anything. But Achan didn’t do that. He found a nice coat and a bar of gold and some silver and he took it home and put it in his tent. That act of disobedience ended up causing a lot of trouble. Israel went out to battle again, this time against a tiny little city, and they were routed.
Joshua inquired of the Lord and Achan was found out. And Joshua said to Achan, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today." And all Israel stoned him with stones.
Achan is the poster boy for this proverb. The wicked will have no peace in their homes. Their money, which they have made their worship, will be their curse.
Let me give you a few quotes. The first is from Matthew Henry. Henry says,
"In the revenues of the wicked, there is trouble; for there is guilt and a curse; there is pride and passion, and envy and contention; and those are troublesome lusts, which rob them of the joy of their revenues and make them troublesome to their neighbours."
Another commentator put it this way,
They have much trouble in getting their riches, by which they pierce themselves through with many sorrows;
they have much trouble in keeping them; cannot rest nor sleep because of their abundance, lest it should be taken away from them;
and they have much trouble in parting with them, when they are, by one providence or another, stripped of them; and, besides, they have them with a curse, and are ever attended with uneasiness, on one account or another.
All this is to say there is no peace in the home of the wicked.
That’s not the way it is in the house of those who fear God. Since they have sought to make their peace with God, the Lord has become their peace. And even if they would be stripped of everything—even if Wall Street collapsed and all of their possessions were instantly gone, there would be little cause for worry, for God watches over them and takes care of them.
And they still have much treasure. For the verse makes it clear that money is not the full sum of their treasure. Sure they have a wealth of finances and a wealth of peace, but we should also recognize that there is a wealth of relationships
III. The Treasure of Family Relationships
Bruce Waltke, in his commentary, points out that the word “in” is not in the original language. Instead of saying, “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,” it should read “the house of the righteous is much treasure.”
What is the treasure? It is the house! The household. It is a covenant home. That is a treasure that you cannot put a price tag on. Of how much value is a god fearing husband & father? There is nothing more valuable than that! What worth is a god fearing wife and mother. Well, the Book of Proverbs gives us the estimates on that one. Proverbs 31 tells us that an excellent wife is more precious than jewels.
Add to that covenant children and the bond that exists between all parties involved. Maybe add in some grandmothers and grandfathers, as was the case back in ancient times. And what do you have? You have a home wherein Christ dwells, and the appraised value of that is exponential.
One pastor speaking on this verse began his message by talking about the blessing of a good home and good relationships within that home. He used the illustration of a lady who had been married 3 times. She said that her first marriage was such a blessing. She and her husband were married for 10 glorious years, and then the Lord took him home to be with Him. Then she said she had the great joy of marrying again. And she was married to this man for 8 years—8 wonderful years, and then the Lord took him home too. She then said, “I’ve now been married to my third husband for two weeks, and the Lord can take him home anytime.”
That’s a silly story, but doesn’t it illustrate the point. A god fearing home is a treasure. But there are some homes that do not have that blessed bond of fellowship.
We live in a day and age where half of marriages end in divorce and 40 percent of children are born out of wedlock. Most children today do not have a stable home and they do not enjoy the regular affection of both parents. They do not have modeled for them what a loving relationship should look like.
They lack the bonds of love and the caring interest that exists in a house that is filled with God’s Spirit.
And that leads us to the last point that is made in our text. A godly home has much treasure not just because God affords it prosperity, or peace, or strong relationships. There is much treasure because God himself is there.
IV. The Treasure of God & His gospel
The text says that the wealthy house is the righteous house. They are wealthy because they knew themselves to be poor and have made it their aim to be spiritually rich. They have laid up for themselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy. They have given up chasing money, and have begun chasing God. They have seen that Christ is the pearl of great price, and they are willing to sell everything they have in order to obtain it.
Why is it that they are financially wealthy? It is because they have sought to honor God and serve Him only. They don’t have all the troubles that wicked people have because they have sought to enrich themselves in the wisdom of God’s word and fill themselves with the riches of the knowledge of God.
They can be said to be the wealthiest people alive because they are people who inherit a kingdom. They may not have much in this life, but they have riches beyond number in the world to come.
They have much treasure because they have wealth of righteousness. In looking to God they have been granted an abundance grace for their sins and the full merit of Christ is theirs.
“You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor, so that you, by his poverty may become rich.”
[1] http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2015/03/24/how-to-build-wealth/
And it says that in the house of the righteous there is much treasure. It is a statement of fact. It is a stereotype.
So what I want to do is analyze this verse and understand the treasures that a god fearing home has. What kind of treasures do we find in a godly house?
I. Treasure of financial wealth
I have to admit here that the commentators are fickle people. Many of those resources that I consulted went to great lengths to say that this verse does not deal with money. Their reason for doing so was because there are many people who are not wealthy who are Christians and they did not want people to have the mindset that God grants financial gain to you just because you are a Christian.
But the verse does deal with financial prosperity. This is a fact that is clearly evident in the text. The word “treasure” is used 5 times in the OT and it typically refers to financial wealth. It also stands in juxtaposition to the revenues of the wicked. So there is certainly a connection between the income of the wicked and the income of the righteous.
Truly, we recognize that there is more encompassed in the idea of wealth, which we will speak to in just a moment. But it should be expressed that, though financial wealth is not the sum and substance, and while it is true that few of God’s people will probably experience excessive wealth (and many may even be qualified as poor), those who are righteous will typically enjoy a competent portion of the good things of this life. We might even say that if we speak in a proverbial sense, the righteous person will often have a better financial standing than his unbelieving counterpart.
This accords with the rest of the teaching of the Scriptures, and especially the book of Proverbs, that those who are righteous will advance their estate. The fear of God produces diligence. God fearing people are serviceable to others, which makes them marketable. Add to that their economic wherewithal, which they’ve gained through the study of God’s commandments. In other words, they demonstrate character traits of contentment, thrift, and the ability to save money rather than impulsively spending it on things that are foolish.
I mentioned that the Scriptures speak to this. One such instance is Psalm 112. Psalm 112 talks about the man who fears God and it describes some of the main characteristics of his life. And one of the things that it highlights is his financial prosperity. It says, “Wealth and riches shall be in his house.”
Charles Spurgeon has a great little commentary on that verse. He says,
“Many of the best of the people of God are very poor; yet it has been found true that uprightness is the road to success, and, all other things being equal, the honest man is the rising man. Many are kept poor through knavery and profligacy; but godliness hath the promise of the life that now is." (Spurgeon, Treasury: Psalm 112:3)
Matthew Henry reiterates the same when he says, “Religion teaches men to be diligent, temperate, and just, and by these means, ordinarily, the estate is increased.”
When we look at the world at large, we find this certainly to be true. Those nations around the world that have been historically Protestant in their orientation are the nations that are the wealthiest on the planet. Those nations that are under the darkness of Islam, Hinduism, or some other such religion are awash in poverty. Even Catholic nations have not prospered to the degree that the Protestant nations have.
And what we find in the macro is often replicated in the micro. What goes on among nations is also what happens within neighborhoods. Those who practice godliness will typically build wealth and frequently enjoy the fruits of their labors. Those who are wise tend to be those who are wealthy. They may not become multi-millionaires, but they typically make some headway in advancing their financial estate so as to prosper and lay up an inheritance for their children’s children.
The puritans sometimes talk about a “disinterest” in money. And that is not to be taken to mean that they did not care about money or seek to acquire wealth. It is the idea of being not overly consumed with it so as to make money an idol. The disinterest in money was complimented by a grand interest in the glory of God. The puritans focused on how they may serve God and bring Him the most glory. And when you do this, you put yourself in a position to make money.
When you seek the glory of God you become more focused on helping others. Your life is not consumed with your own personal acquisitions. And, you know what, that is the key. As a matter of fact, I was researching this this week and I found an article that talked about the keys to building wealth. And one of the things it highlighted was this: that The right way to make money is not chasing it, but attracting it. Here is how the author describes the situation:[1]
“Money is like a mischievous cat; if you chase it around the neighborhood, it eludes you. However, if you ignore it and focus on what attracts the cat, it comes to you.”
How do we know if we chase money? A “money-chaser” asks these kinds of questions:
"How can I make money starting a business? How can I make a passive income?"
As you can see, the focus is on the money. Since money is the focus, they might even cut corners to get what they want.
What you should do instead is focus on solving people’s problems. Chase needs, not money. A business that solves problems attracts money.
The truth is: money is just a reflection of the value you give to others. So the more you solve people’s problems, the more money you will make.
Does this not summarize the essence of the Christian life? As a Christian, we do not chase money. We chase needs. We make it our aim to serve God and love our neighbor. And this article essentially says that this is the normal path to wealth.
So we may confess, yes, there may be many Christian homes where there is a great deal of poverty. But we may also recognize that, under normal circumstances and with God’s blessing, the god-fearing house will enjoy much treasure. And we should not shy away from acknowledging.
But while the treasure here certainly includes monetary wealth, it is not limited to it. Part of the wonder of this treasure is its breadth. And as we open this verse, we see just how robust this treasure chest is. Beyond financial treasure we have the treasure of peace
II. Treasure of Peace
One thing that characterizes a Christian home is its serenity. There is a wealth of peace that is enjoyed. This is not the way it is in the home of an unbeliever. Just look at the second half of this verse. It says, “But trouble befalls the income of the wicked.”
What do we see when we peek in the windows of the wicked. We see a lot of tension. There is a lot of drama. Sure, there may be a lot of treasure. They may be filthy rich. Some of the most wicked people in the world are living high off the hog. But there’s another thing that they have, and it is this: trouble. They are loaded with anxiety. They are always being annoyed with this or that. Their money may be plenty, but so are their problems. Their money is ends up being a nuisance.
Think of the story of Achan. When the Israelites fought the battle of Jericho they were not to take any spoil. They were to burn it all. They were not to touch anything. But Achan didn’t do that. He found a nice coat and a bar of gold and some silver and he took it home and put it in his tent. That act of disobedience ended up causing a lot of trouble. Israel went out to battle again, this time against a tiny little city, and they were routed.
Joshua inquired of the Lord and Achan was found out. And Joshua said to Achan, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today." And all Israel stoned him with stones.
Achan is the poster boy for this proverb. The wicked will have no peace in their homes. Their money, which they have made their worship, will be their curse.
Let me give you a few quotes. The first is from Matthew Henry. Henry says,
"In the revenues of the wicked, there is trouble; for there is guilt and a curse; there is pride and passion, and envy and contention; and those are troublesome lusts, which rob them of the joy of their revenues and make them troublesome to their neighbours."
Another commentator put it this way,
They have much trouble in getting their riches, by which they pierce themselves through with many sorrows;
they have much trouble in keeping them; cannot rest nor sleep because of their abundance, lest it should be taken away from them;
and they have much trouble in parting with them, when they are, by one providence or another, stripped of them; and, besides, they have them with a curse, and are ever attended with uneasiness, on one account or another.
All this is to say there is no peace in the home of the wicked.
That’s not the way it is in the house of those who fear God. Since they have sought to make their peace with God, the Lord has become their peace. And even if they would be stripped of everything—even if Wall Street collapsed and all of their possessions were instantly gone, there would be little cause for worry, for God watches over them and takes care of them.
And they still have much treasure. For the verse makes it clear that money is not the full sum of their treasure. Sure they have a wealth of finances and a wealth of peace, but we should also recognize that there is a wealth of relationships
III. The Treasure of Family Relationships
Bruce Waltke, in his commentary, points out that the word “in” is not in the original language. Instead of saying, “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,” it should read “the house of the righteous is much treasure.”
What is the treasure? It is the house! The household. It is a covenant home. That is a treasure that you cannot put a price tag on. Of how much value is a god fearing husband & father? There is nothing more valuable than that! What worth is a god fearing wife and mother. Well, the Book of Proverbs gives us the estimates on that one. Proverbs 31 tells us that an excellent wife is more precious than jewels.
Add to that covenant children and the bond that exists between all parties involved. Maybe add in some grandmothers and grandfathers, as was the case back in ancient times. And what do you have? You have a home wherein Christ dwells, and the appraised value of that is exponential.
One pastor speaking on this verse began his message by talking about the blessing of a good home and good relationships within that home. He used the illustration of a lady who had been married 3 times. She said that her first marriage was such a blessing. She and her husband were married for 10 glorious years, and then the Lord took him home to be with Him. Then she said she had the great joy of marrying again. And she was married to this man for 8 years—8 wonderful years, and then the Lord took him home too. She then said, “I’ve now been married to my third husband for two weeks, and the Lord can take him home anytime.”
That’s a silly story, but doesn’t it illustrate the point. A god fearing home is a treasure. But there are some homes that do not have that blessed bond of fellowship.
We live in a day and age where half of marriages end in divorce and 40 percent of children are born out of wedlock. Most children today do not have a stable home and they do not enjoy the regular affection of both parents. They do not have modeled for them what a loving relationship should look like.
They lack the bonds of love and the caring interest that exists in a house that is filled with God’s Spirit.
And that leads us to the last point that is made in our text. A godly home has much treasure not just because God affords it prosperity, or peace, or strong relationships. There is much treasure because God himself is there.
IV. The Treasure of God & His gospel
The text says that the wealthy house is the righteous house. They are wealthy because they knew themselves to be poor and have made it their aim to be spiritually rich. They have laid up for themselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy. They have given up chasing money, and have begun chasing God. They have seen that Christ is the pearl of great price, and they are willing to sell everything they have in order to obtain it.
Why is it that they are financially wealthy? It is because they have sought to honor God and serve Him only. They don’t have all the troubles that wicked people have because they have sought to enrich themselves in the wisdom of God’s word and fill themselves with the riches of the knowledge of God.
They can be said to be the wealthiest people alive because they are people who inherit a kingdom. They may not have much in this life, but they have riches beyond number in the world to come.
They have much treasure because they have wealth of righteousness. In looking to God they have been granted an abundance grace for their sins and the full merit of Christ is theirs.
“You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor, so that you, by his poverty may become rich.”
[1] http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2015/03/24/how-to-build-wealth/