What is the meaning of Proverbs 10:2, Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivers from death? What are the treasures of wickedness according to the Bible?
What are the treasures of wickedness?
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivers from death (IMizekeliso 10:2)
Treasures of wickedness are treasures (gained by) iniquity and profit nothing. We can interpret the treasures of wickedness in two ways, oko kukuthi:
- Treasures (ubutyebi) gained through wickedness, which is wicked and immoral behavior, like theft, fraud, illegal or undeclared work, tax evasion, njl.
- The treasures (ubutyebi) of this world; the profit of the wicked; those who live without God, in sin and iniquity
The reason why the treasures of wickedness can be interpreted in two ways is because of the second part of the sentence. In the second part of the sentence, it is written that only righteousness delivers from death.
If the writer meant no. 1, wouldn’t it be more logical that in the second part of the sentence the counterpart of ‘treasures gained through wickedness’ would be mentioned? Or something like righteous wealth and honest treasures? But that is not the case. In the second part of the sentence, the writer mentioned the fact that only righteousness saves from death.
In Proverbs 11:4, we see a similar sentence, oko kukuthi, Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death(IMizekeliso 11:4)
The treasures of this world are not able to save you
The riches and wealth of this world, profit nothing in the day of wrath. You can have a wealthy prosperous life on earth and have everything you want, but they can’t do anything about your spiritual state and eternity. The treasures of the world are not able to save you from death.
All the wealth and riches of this world, can’t buy redemption, uxolo, uvuyo, happiness, uthando, ukuphilisa, and eternal life. The treasure of this world can’t save you from eternal death. The wealth and riches of this world can only bring you temporary joy and pleasure (delight).
The truth is, the more you sow in the world, the more you reap the fruit of this world, which will lead to eternal death.
Money is a side issue and must not be the main issue in life. In the gospel of the Kingdom of God, this may never become the focus of Christians and the center of Christianity.
If money is the most important thing in someone’s life then the person doesn’t have a clue what the Kingdom of God is all about.
It shows that the person is still carnal and not spiritual and is led by his love of money and the spirit of greed.
Jesus didn’t circulate a money bag after His preaching, nor did Jesus beg for money. Hayi, Jesus knew that His Father would take care of Him. The Father would supply all His needs (Funda kwakhona: Imali, imali, imali).
When Jesus paid His tribute, Jesus not only paid for Himself, but Jesus also paid for His disciples. Remember, that Jesus didn’t have any money, or savings at that moment. But God supplied Jesus’ needs at that moment in a miraculous way.
Jesus said to Peter: go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee (UMateyu 17:27)
The heart of the wicked, who belongs to this world, goes out to wealth, riches, honor of people, and pleasures of life. These are the treasures of the wicked. But the heart of the righteous, who are risen with Christ, goes out to God and His Kingdom (Funda kwakhona: If you are risen with Christ, seek the things which are above and not upon the earth)
Righteousness delivers from death
Jesus took all the wickedness; all sins and iniquities of the world upon Himself. Only by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ, you will be delivered from the power of sin and death. You will be redeemed from your old sinful nature, that was full of wickedness; isono, and iniquity (Funda kwakhona: What does the Bible say about the old man?)
Through the baptism in water and the baptism with the Holy Spirit, uya kuba uzelwe ngokutsha in the spirit and become indalo entsha. By the blood of Jesus Christ, you have become holy and righteous, therefore you shall also walk in holiness and righteousness.
You shall no longer live the life you lived before as the old creation, as the world, in sin and iniquity. Seeking worldly riches, honor of people, and pleasures of life. But by the blood of Jesus, you have been bought and transferred from the darkness into the Kingdom of Light.
You shall no longer seek those things, which are upon this earth, but you shall seek those things which are above. Because you are now ehleli kuYesu Kristu in the Heavenly Places.
You have become a resident and an ambassador of the Kingdom of God. Therefore you shall walk in holiness on the path of righteousness, which will lead to eternal life. You shall do His will, and keep His commandments. You shall lay up treasures in heaven.
Lay up treasures in heaven
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye:if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon (UMateyu 6:19-24)
Even if you possessed all the wealth and treasures of this world, they couldn’t provide eternal life. All the treasures of the world are not able to deliver you from death. Therefore the treasures of wickedness profit nothing.
Only Jesus Christ can deliver you from death and give you eternal life.
‘Yiba yityuwa yomhlaba’
