Proverbs 11:28-31 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 11:28-31, which read,

v.28 - He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

1 Timothy 6:17 and 18 says, "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.  Instruct them to do good, and be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed."

These New Testament verses sound a lot like this proverb.  In the face of what riches are proposed to bring us in our world of comfort, pleasure, and prestige, the Bible gives us another type of riches that make the world's riches look like the poor route to take.  The richness of following after God brings about life like no other and the poorness of following after the world brings about ultimate failure. I think the point of these polar opposites is to make us look at what does it really mean to follow after God that it would bring such outcomes to our lives.

v.29, 30 - He who troubles his own house will inherit wind, and the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.

Do you want to have just air because you have stirred up trouble in your home or do you want the fruit from the tree of life because you have lived a righteous life following after Christ in your home?  Do you want to be led around by others or do you want to be leading others to the One who offers salvation?  The foolish cause trouble and the wise live righteously.  The foolish end up following because of their trouble making skills while the wise who are following Christ who is righteous end up pointing others to Him.  

Do you long to point another to Christ?  Do you pray for opportunities to tell another about the Savior of the world?  Do you look for opportunities that God opens up for His children to speak about spiritual things or offer Biblical guidance and prayer?  Righteous, wise living points others to the One who is righteous and stirs up not trouble but a following of others to know more about who you are following.  We need to be praying and preparing our hearts for these meetings set up by God.

v.31 - If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

We will receive eternal rewards or judgment in the end.  The righteous will receive final blessings in heaven above and the wicked will receive final condemnation in hell below.  This proverb gives us the "what about now" answer to the righteous and the wicked.  Now, on this earth, the righteous are rewarded by God for following after Him.  Now, on this earth, the wicked are receiving the consequences of not following after God.  This really puts a crimp in the "I'll follow God later when I am ready" excuse because you are missing out on the blessings of God now to be received this side of heaven.  You are trading the earthly blessings from God for the bondage of consequences.  What a foolish thing to do.  You think you are "getting all the gusto" but really you are giving up the opportunity of a life time.  You are wasting precious time on yourself when you could be experiencing God purposeful living now.  

If God rewards those now who follow after Him, how much more will those who don't follow after Him miss God's rewards withheld from them?  Let's pray.

"Lord, we have put such a premium on our happiness and our pleasure and our comfort and elevated the results but they are peanuts when compared to experiencing joy, purpose, and comfort from following after You.  May we see the difference You make with a simple act of following after Your words and ways today.  May we desire to point others to You.  Amen."

Pastor Adam