“Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death.” (Proverbs 11:4)
Pyrite is a mineral that is famous for having a similar color and luster as gold. Although they may share similar appearances, they are completely different in terms of durability, use, and value, earning pyrite the nickname of “fool’s gold.” In a similar fashion, while having many material possessions and wealth is not necessarily a bad thing, they are useless against saving us from God’s wrath (11:4).
Throughout the Scriptures, there are many warnings about wealth. Here are a few:
- Wealth does not bring happiness (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11).
- Wealth is temporary (Matthew 6:19).
- Wealth can easily become an idol (Matthew 6:24).
The second half of Proverbs 11:4 states that righteousness, not wealth is what ultimately rescues us from death. If we are being completely honest with ourselves, we will come to the realization that this righteousness does not come from ourselves. In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul writes that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Stumbling only at just one point of God’s law is the same as breaking all of it (James 2:10). If wealth and our own works cannot save us how can we be rescued from sin and death?
The answer ultimately comes from the life and work of Jesus Christ. By living the life that we couldn’t achieve and dying the death that we deserved, he provided a way for us to be rescued from death. Jesus died for us because we couldn’t save ourselves. Through faith in what Jesus did for us, God ultimately declares us righteous in his sight. Let us remember that while our possessions here on earth will eventually fade, break, or be forgotten, we have a treasure awaiting us in heaven “where moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20).