The Righteous Vs. The Wicked

In this section of Proverbs, we see a clear contrast between the righteous and the wicked. Proverbs 10:24 says, the very thing that the wicked dreads will come upon him. The Message version paints an even more vivid picture, by saying "the nightmare of the wicked comes true". Have you heard of the expression, the very thing you fear the most will overtake you? Well, those who are wicked and who are not living lives oriented towards God, operate in a spirit of fear opposed to faith. My pastor shared an acronym for fear with us a couple of times. It is F.E.A.R. = False Evidence Appearing Real. People can get so wrapped up and become fearful of things to the point that it comes into fruition within their lives. As believers, our fear and our reverence should be for God. And when we have this healthy reverence towards God, it gives birth to faith.

Proverbs 10:25 says when the storm is over, there is nothing left of the wicked. The reason why there is nothing left is because the wicked does not have a solid foundation built upon God and His principles. Consider the foolish man in Matthew 7:26 & 27, "26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." The foolish man's house could not stand because he lacked THE solid foundation in God.

Now on to the righteous man, Proverbs 10:24 tells us that the desires of the righteous are granted. Those that are righteous delight themselves in God, from there God honors that and gives the righteous the desires of their heart (Psalm 37:4). Once are lives are oriented towards God and we walk in accordance to His will, He will impart His desires on us. Once this takes place we are in sync with desiring what God would want for us.

Righteous people that possess a strong foundation in God, are not even fazed by the storm once it passes over (Proverbs 10:25 paraphrased from the Message). Let's take a look at Matthew 7:24 & 25.
"24 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. "

It is so key to live righteously and keep God as our sole and solid foundation. As a righteous believer, it is by having God as our foundation that enables us to prevail over the wicked every time!

Created about 2 years ago