True Wealth and Troublesome Income. . . Proverbs 15:6

Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, But trouble is in the income of the wicked. Proverbs 15:6

There are those who take verses like this and use them to promise riches and possessions to those who walk with God.  They are also used to speak judgment and condemnation on those who are poor and needy.  If that were the case, then Jesus should have been the richest man who ever walked on the earth.  Yet Jesus Himself said that He had no place to lay His head - and He was ultimately betrayed by a disciple who saw that Jesus' kingdom was not going to be of this world - or at least consisting of this world's goods.  There is a prosperity that comes from Godly circumspect religion though.  It comes from being wise with money - and from knowing the blessing of God in financial endeavors.  There is great wealth in the house of many of those who use right principles in dealing with money.  Proverbs itself is filled with excellent financial counsel, which, if followed, would ensure blessing on those who heed it. 

The true wealth, though, of the righteous is in things that cannot be stored in a bank or lock box.  These things consist of forgiveness, joy, peace, and love.  They come when we choose to walk consistently in God's ways and adhere to the paths into which His Spirit guides us.  To the one who does NOT have them - they are utterly invaluable.  Many a rich, ungodly man would give his entire fortune for these things - but usually only later in life.  This wealth is even more wonderful than earthly riches because moth and rust cannot corrupt nor thieves break in and steal them.  They will last forever - and they are the true currency of heaven.  To spend a lifetime building up a treasure of this kind is to be rich indeed.  To live without them is to know nothing but poverty of spirit here and now - and damnation throughout eternity. 

The income of the wicked is often desired by those in this world.  Occasionally, as we see in Psalm 73, even the godly at times wish for a life without trouble and hardship.  They wish for a life bathed in butter and human delicacies.  This longing stops though, when we see that their income is filled with trouble.  Their riches come with problems.  First there is the trouble of keeping what you've already got when the world desires it too.  Men stay up late and rise early to protect their income - they lose sleep trying to keep what they have.  There is also trouble in getting such income.  Too often riches are gained to the damage of those who get them.  They resort to ungodly tactics and ungodly ways to garner more and more wealth for themselves.  In the end - the trouble they face is trouble from two sources.  First there is those whom they have cheated.  Leaders like Sadaam Hussein lived a life of opulent luxury most of their days - but in the end - those whom he cheated and stole from hated him fiercely.  He wound up hiding in a hole - and hanging from the end of a rope - as crowds ultimately cheered his execution.  Biblically, Haman had it all - but in the end lost it all when his greed and hatred caused him great trouble.  The last we see of the great and wealthy Haman is him escorted from the king's presence with a black bag over his head.  In the end . . . his wealth was used to construct a gallows from which he himself hung.  There is certainly trouble when those whom we have hurt and bilked come for their revenge.  But there is a great trouble awaiting the wicked rich.

Scripture speaks of a wealthy farmer who thought life consisted of his possessions.  Trying to keep a bumper crop as his crowning achievement led to God's final sentence upon him.  God considered him a fool.  He thought his life consisted only of his wealth and goods.  Yet the true riches were knowing God and being prepared to face Him on the day of judgment.  "You fool!" was the way God addressed this wicked, rich man on the eve of his death.  "Today your soul is required of you - and what is going to become of all your wealth."  The only term accurate to his situation was the term, "fool." 

Live for true riches and you will be wise.  Live for the wealth that comes from knowing, loving, and obeying God.  Nothing else matters when you leave this world and enter into eternity.  The wealth of the righteous will be stored up for them in heaven all their days.  It will never pass away.  But the troublesome income of the wicked . . . it will burn them like fire all their days.  It will be part of the everlasting trouble that will afflict their souls for all eternity.