Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 11:7, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
American Standard Version
When a wicked man dieth, [his] expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth.
World English Bible version
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
Proverbs 11:7 Meaning & Commentary
Every person on earth carries hope, expectation, or desire. Every person, however, will also pass on from this life to the next life. Reading Proverbs 11:7 causes us to take a step back and evaluate our lives. You see, a wicked person carries hope while they are alive as well. However, it indeed is not a godly hope. It could be the hope of doing harm, causing evil, or getting more power and money. Whatever it is, when the wicked person dies, their hope is gone in an instant. The Bible also says that the expectation of wealth perishes. Wealth is something that every person desires to have in this life. Wealth is usually thought of just in financial success, only. It is, however, much more than that only. People (godly and wicked) desire to be healthy and wealthy in every area of their lives. No wicked person would desire not to have enough money or to be sick. So, even the wicked carry specific hopes and dreams with them. Psalm 39:5-6 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothingthey are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! The Bible teaches us that life and money are fleeting and can be gone in a moment: Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. Whatever expectations we may have to make wealth, build a business, or do anything else could be gone in a moment, and only then will what matters remain; our relationship with God!
Application
How can we practically apply Proverbs 11:7 to our lives?
Proverbs 11:7 challenges us to keep our perspective in order. It is a sober reminder that life can be over at any moment. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. To live our lives for Jesus Christ should be our highest goal, as Paul The Apostle declared: Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Paul’s mission was to live for Christ and, in death, to gain the fruit of his labor. This should be our goal, and we should strive to live our lives in this manner, not like the wicked person spoken of in Proverbs 11:7 who carries hopes, dreams, ambitions, and the expectation of making wealth, but perhaps not realizing that life is not guaranteed: James 4:13-15 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” We are reminded elsewhere in The Bible that although we have plans, ideas, and hopes, ultimately, the Lord’s purposes stand above all our plans, hopes, and dreams: Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. The quicker we accept God as lord over our lives, the sooner we can live for His purpose, knowing that what we are doing on earth is not fleeting or a waste of our time or energy but carries an eternal reward. We can then live every day for Christ as though it was our last, and when we do pass onto the next life, know that there is a reward waiting for us!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for this somber reminder that tomorrow is not guaranteed and that what matters is serving you and walking in your purpose for my life. Help me from this point onwards to re-center my life so that I may serve you all the days of my life. I desire to seek Your Kingdom first above all. I ask your forgiveness where I have strayed off this path and lived for myself. I commit my life back to you today. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen!
