Searching for Proverbs 10:2 meaning? Here’s a commentary on what the passage means, along with application and appropriate prayer.
Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 10:2, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
American Standard Version
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; But righteousness delivereth from death.
World English Bible version
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 10:2 Meaning & Commentary
Have you ever met someone who has lots of worldly treasures and riches, yet they are the most miserable and self-absorbed individual? Proverbs 10:2 says that treasures gained by wickedness do not profit.
Now, what does this mean? Firstly, let’s take a step back – Treasures gained by wickedness could mean stealing, corrupt activity, shady dealings, or anything of the like. Now, why would someone engage in such activities to gain treasures, or money (In more modern terms)? The answer is that they are consumed by greed! If you love money, you will never have enough, and if you chase money, it will always outrun you.
Therefore, someone greedy for more and more money will do whatever it takes to get more, even gaining it through wickedness! The reason that The Bible says that it does not profit, is simply because you lose your own life in the process – Your relationship with God, your integrity, and Christlike character, and you are left feeling empty inside. You have “everything”, yet nothing at all.
Jesus spoke about this life full of material possessions, but empty towards God in Luke 12:16-21 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
No treasures gained by wickedness cannot or will ever profit a man, and the reason is that to gain wickedness by profit, indicates a deeper and underlying issue of the heart, which is the root cause of the problem. Now, when The Bible states that righteousness delivers from death…(Proverbs 10:2b), this is referring to being in right standing with God.
You see, our righteousness is in Christ Jesus, not in ourselves, nor our works. A man in right standing with God has no fear of death in any form. Righteousness is an “anchor” for our soul and ensures that we do not get swept away in worthless pursuits!
Application
What then is the practical application of Proverbs 10:2?
Firstly, to recognize and know that the greatest treasure in all of life is to be in right standing with God. There is no amount of money, possessions or fame which can “make up” for our relationship with God not being as it should. We need to value and treasure our relationship with Him as if our lives depended on it because it literally does.
Secondly, we need to do introspection and see if we are being swept away by greed, which opens the door for all kinds of other evil to creep into our lives. If we recognize this in our hearts, we need to repent, ask God to help us be more generous, and then practically start giving more into His Kingdom, as this will change our hearts from the inside, out.
Jesus said the following in Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
So, we see in verse 21 that the heart follows the treasure. This means that we give first, and then our hearts are changed and aligned with His will and purposes! So, don’t wait until you “feel it” – just start being generous now and God will bring change into your heart and uproot the force of greed!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to guard and treasure my walk with you more than the most precious possessions. I thank you for my right-standing with you because of what Jesus Christ has done. If there is any greed in my life, and my heart, please expose it, and help me to see it.
Give me the strength to move from a place of greed into a place of generosity and cause me to honor you with all my possessions, and in thought, word and deed. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen!
