The wages of the righteous is life,
but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
Summary: We discussed this verse a little in yesterday’s meditation on verses 15-16. Today we look at verse 16 by itself. The meanings of the words in this verse hold the key to understanding what “life” and “death” mean from God’s point of view. /
What does it mean to be righteous? What does it mean to be wicked? For that matter, what do the words “life” and “death” mean?
These four words are the keys to understanding what the Bible is all about. If we apply the wrong definitions to them, we are in danger of coming to the wrong conclusions. So what are the “right” definitions?
“Life” is used to describe both our physical existence and our spiritual existence in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:4). “Death” is a word that describes the end of physical life and our spiritual existence in the lake of fire (Revelation 20: 14-15).
We know that a wicked act does not result in instant physical death. Many people who do wicked things are “alive” today, in the flesh. Since this is true, the death earned by the wicked and mentioned in this proverb must be the “second death” referred to in Revelation 20, eternal separation from God.
The Hebrew word “ṣadîq” (pronounced “tsad-deek”) is the word that the NIV has translated as “righteous.” Like many words, the word “ṣadîq” can have different meanings depending on the context. A righteous life could be a judge or government official making the right decisions. A crusader against world hunger supports a righteous cause. A person with impeccable credentials and character might be conserved righteous, as is someone who always obeys the letter of the law. Finally, there is the person, such as Abraham, who is justified and vindicated by God (Roman 4: 18-22).
The only person to walk the earth who lived a fully righteous life in every sense of the word was Jesus. In Solomon’s day, righteousness was considered a matter of the heart. Solomon’s father, David, wrote, “My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.” (Psalm 7:10) Long before Solomon’s time, Job said:
I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
ye in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19: 25-27)
Long before Jesus walked this world, Job knew he would one day meet him.
In the end, the righteousness that matters is being justified before God by God. We do that by believing in God and Jesus Christ, his Son, our redeemer.
The wages of righteousness are paid in spiritual currency. Jesus has paid the price, the wages of life are being with God in heaven. The earnings of the wicked are not plunder taken from those they have beaten down in this world, but the “second death” that confines them to the lake of fire. An accurate understanding of these terms is truly a matter of life and death.
Application: Strive to live a righteous life in every sense of the word.
Food for Thought: How do we know if we are “upright in heart”?
If we are upright in heart we will bear the Fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
One can “act” upright in heart but they wont know true peace. Bearing the fruit means these things are a part of you, you can share them with others, and others can see it is a part of you. There is an abundance that is natural.
Thank you, Chris.
It sounds like the “fruit of the fruit” (so to speak) is “true peace.” So in addition to seeing the Spirit express God’s love through us, it sounds like we also experience God’s Peace?
We would see all the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit. If we only allow the Spirit to grow love in us it is like an apple that is too sweet, too much of one aspect. The same with the others, if we only accept the Spirit’s prompting to have gentleness, but not the others, will we love someone enough to correct them? Will we be faithful to share the gospel boldly?
God’s Spirit is already well rounded, we are not. That’s part of our conforming to Him and not the world.
I agree with Chris, this is a great list that we have ‘this side’ of the cross.
A –
You make a very interesting observation today. Galatians 5:22-23 is not a list of “things” but rather a recipe for a balanced life. Like making chocolate chip cookies but forgetting the chocolate chips. The result is a cookie but not really what you started out to make. God is the Master Chef. We need to let his Spirit do the cooking. 🙂
Yes, thanks Jeff that is what i meant but you said it a bit better. 🙂
Too sweet?!?!? Sorry that confused me.
How do we know that we are ” upright in heart”?
I don’t think that I am upright in heart. All I can do is try. I fail multiple times a day. My heart is linked with my mind so if I have sinful thoughts I already have missed the mark. I’ve had a sinful heart for too long that its impossible for me to fix it on my own. Thankfully Jesus has a cure for the cancer of my heart that spreads. He has given me a new heart. That heart can be” upright”.
T,
You are spot on. Jesus does give us a new heart and that is the one we want to lean on. Nicely said!
1 John 1:8-10, Romans 3:23-24, Psalms 51: 10 , Ezekiel 36:26
Great verses, T.
I have added a link for others to use.
Thank you all. Great comments and others went where my mind went – to fruit as seen in the fruit of the Spirit. The other place my mind went was being in right relationship with the Lord. This of course comes via the cross. But I can still pursue Jesus in intimate relationship. Phil. 3: 7 – 11.
Rich,
Intersting passage! Paul, in verses 10-11 writes, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
This is Paul, the Amazing Apostle to the Gentiles speaking! He does not say, “I know Christ … etc.” He says, “I want to know Christ…”
Even Paul at this point in his walk with the Lord is still wanting more Jesus in his life.
04-26-2022, Proverbs 10:16, How do we know if we are “upright in heart”?
Great stuff today. Can’t really add much, simply present another way.
One of God’s titles in the Bible is upright, the “Upright One” who makes the paths of the righteous smooth, He is upright and just, and finds pleasure in uprightness.
Isaiah 26:7, Deuteronomy 32:4, 1 Chronicles 29:17
God created Adam and Eve in His image and enjoyed fellowship with His upright creation, until they chose to become contaminated with sin and were separated from God who will not allow a speck of sin to contaminate His Holiness.
Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3, Romans 5:12, 8:7
Our path back to an upright heart relationship with God begins with our response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus who will place the righteousness of Christ in the hearts of all who in faith will receive Him.
John 16:8-15, Hebrews 11:6, Romans 5:5, 2 Corinthians 1:22,
With Christ in our hearts we become positionally upright and will walk in fear of the LORD. Biblical fear is defined as a deep respect, reverence, awe and obedience rather than any degree of terror, which means as an upright person we have a great respect for God and His commandments and we seek to walk in the way of God’s wisdom by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 14:2,15:21, Ephesians 3:17
Thank you, Ron.
I think you added quite a lot! Your words make me think. I used to carry so many worries on my shoulders that I was physically bent over most of the time. A sweet little old lady who was a believer called me out one day. “Jeff, stand up straight!” As I meditated on all of the things God has done for me, I eventually realized I could stand up straight. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11: 28) Amen!
Great story and verse!