Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
but righteousness delivers from death. (Proverbs 10:2)
First, sorry about not having this ready yesterday. Life sometimes gets in the way.
As I look at the American economy, and even more at economies around the world, with my flawed human eyes, I get frustrated. It seems to me that there are a lot of ill-gotten treasures that have high value. I know that it’s a matter of perspective. And I know folks who will jeer “Pie in the sky by-and-by” if someone suggests the eternal perspective. They’re probably the same people who scoff about our prayers being with those who are facing a crisis.
What if our focus in this passage isn’t where it should be? We like to get angry about ill-gotten gains. It’s not fair. They shouldn’t have that treasure! I’m not disagreeing with you. They shouldn’t have it. But what if the treasure, or their having the treasure, is not what this passage is about? What if it’s about our reaction. That person shouldn’t have that treasure! True, but what about your righteousness as you protest? No, I’m not asking about your self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is the problem here. As we look down our noses at those folks who have ill-gotten treasures, are we loving them? Or are we taking God’s place as their judges? Are we focusing so much on the wickedness of others that we don’t have time to practice righteousness?
That ill-gotten treasure about which we are obsessing will be destroyed. Why does it matter so much to us?
As I look at the American economy, and even more at economies around the world, with my flawed human eyes, I get frustrated. It seems to me that there are a lot of ill-gotten treasures that have high value. I know that it’s a matter of perspective. And I know folks who will jeer “Pie in the sky by-and-by” if someone suggests the eternal perspective. They’re probably the same people who scoff about our prayers being with those who are facing a crisis.
What if our focus in this passage isn’t where it should be? We like to get angry about ill-gotten gains. It’s not fair. They shouldn’t have that treasure! I’m not disagreeing with you. They shouldn’t have it. But what if the treasure, or their having the treasure, is not what this passage is about? What if it’s about our reaction. That person shouldn’t have that treasure! True, but what about your righteousness as you protest? No, I’m not asking about your self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is the problem here. As we look down our noses at those folks who have ill-gotten treasures, are we loving them? Or are we taking God’s place as their judges? Are we focusing so much on the wickedness of others that we don’t have time to practice righteousness?
That ill-gotten treasure about which we are obsessing will be destroyed. Why does it matter so much to us?
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