Christian Philosophy: How Christ Fulfills Proverbs 10:2

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Given 1) the Book of Proverbs is one of the best places in God’s Word to learn wisdom and 2) there are so many proverbs in the book to reflect on, I’ll continue this Christian philosophy series by going through every single proverb in the Book and showing how they each picture Christ, the Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).

With all that said, we move on to our next proverb: Proverbs 10:2. The text reads: “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.”

Let’s focus first on the first clause: “treasures of wickedness profit nothing.” Because sin, or disobeying God [1], has become our nature due to the sin of the first man, Adam [2], we’re more than willing to sin (in whatever way necessary) for personal gain. Christ, however, since He is without sin (Hebrews 4:15), has never desired to commit any kind of wickedness for any gain. When Satan offered Him all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for falling down and worshipping him, Christ responded with the Divine command that one should worship and serve God only (Matthew 4:8-10). He sees that there is no true profit that can be gained by sin. So, this proverb first helps us understand who Christ is by illustrating who He is NOT: one who sins in exchange for any kind of reward. And, because sin, by definition, is Christlessness [3], this proverb convicts us by showing us who we are: people who ARE willing to do evil for things in return. It’s a disease curable only by the medicine of faith in Christ, which is a trusting look to Him, as the Holy Spirit reveals Him in the Bible [4] (John 3:14-16; cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Second, let’s focus on the second clause: “but righteousness delivereth from death.” What comes to mind but the righteousness of God that comes by faith in Christ (Romans 3:22)? Christ obeyed so that many (i.e. as many as would trust Him) would be made righteous (Romans 5:19). It is by this righteousness that the Christian is justified (i.e. declared righteous) instead of condemned (i.e. declared guilty) in God’s court [5]. This righteousness means that one has passed from death to life (John 5:24). So, in Christ, the proverb is fulfilled that “righteousness delivereth from death.”

Believer, this is who you trust: One who would never disobey God for any kind of personal gain and who, by His righteousness, delivers all who trust Him from death!

Unbeliever, trust this One who cannot be corrupted by any kind of bribe and who, by His obedience, delivers His people from death!

[1] 1 John 3:4; cf. Matthew 7:23-27 [2] Romans 5:12-21; Ephesians 2:1-3 [3] 1 John 2:3-6 [4] The Bible is God’s Word in written form, this form consisting of no more and no less than the 66 Books of the Old and New Testaments. [5] Romans 3:24-25, 8:1