Proverbs (Part 160) - Pro 11:28

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28. Pro 11:28 – “He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.” A. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: i. Definitions a. Trust v. – To have faith or confidence; to place reliance; to confide. b. Riches n. – 1. Abundance of means or of valuable possessions; wealth. Also, in certain constructions, the possession of wealth, the condition of being rich. c. Fall v. – I. To descend freely (primarily by 'weight' or gravity): opposed to 'rise'. 1. a. intr. To drop from a high or relatively high position. c. fig. esp. with reference to descent from high estate, or from moral elevation. e. fig. of calamity, disease, fear, sleep, vengeance, etc. III. To lose the erect position (primarily with suddenness): opposed to 'stand'. * To become suddenly prostrate. 19. a. intr. To be brought or come suddenly to the ground; also to fall prostrate, to the ground, etc. b. fig.; esp. in to fall to the ground: to come to nothing; to be discredited or futile. to fall flat. 22. In moral sense: To yield to temptation, to sin; esp. of a woman: To surrender her chastity. d. In other words, those who have faith, confidence, and reliance in their money and material wealth will come to nothing. ii. Our trust must be only in God who is the only firm foundation upon which to build our faith. a. The LORD is our rock, fortress, shield, high tower, refuge, deliverer, and savior (2Sa 22:2-4). b. The LORD is a strong tower where the righteous can find safety (Pro 18:10). c. When we trust in God, we have a firm footing on which to stand. iii. Riches are not a stable foundation to upon which to place our faith. a. Riches are not forever (Pro 27:24). b. Riches are uncertain, and therefore they should not be trusted in (1Ti 6:17). c. Riches are transitory and fleeting – they certainly make themselves wings and fly away toward heaven (Pro 23:5). d. If riches increase, never set your heart upon them (Psa 62:10). iv. The wicked who trust in their riches and will eventually fall. a. Wealth is the strong city of the wicked in which they put their trust and confidence (Pro 18:11). (i) They trust in their riches instead of making God their strength (Psa 52:7). (ii) The wealth of the wicked makes them proud (Psa 49:6) and sets them up for a fall (Pro 16:18). b. They think their wealth will last forever (Psa 49:11). c. But when they die, they will carry nothing with them (Psa 49:17). d. We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we will carry nothing out of it (Job 1:21; Ecc 5:15; 1Ti 6:7). e. The riches of the wicked will not deliver them in the day of God’s wrath (Eze 7:19; Zep 1:18). B. but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. i. Definitions a. Righteous adj. – 1. a. Of persons: Just, upright, virtuous; guiltless, sinless; conforming to the standard of the divine or the moral law; acting rightly or justly. b. Flourish v. – I. intr. To blossom, thrive. 1. Of a plant or tree: To blossom, flower. b. To throw out leaves and shoots; to shoot forth; to grow vigorously and luxuriantly. 2. gen. To thrive. a. Of persons: To prosper, do well. c. In other words, those who are just, upright, and conform themselves to the standard of the word of God do not trust in their riches and will thus prosper and do well in life. ii. Whereas those who trust in riches will fall, the righteous will flourish. a. One reason why the righteous will flourish is because they don’t trust in riches, which causes other men to fall. b. The righteous don’t trust in riches because they keep God’s commandments (Luk 1:6), and one of God’s commandments is to not trust in riches (1Ti 6:17). iii. Keeping God’s commandments, which is righteousness by definition, will cause one to prosper. a. The key to a successful, prosperous, flourishing, and thriving life is reading and meditating in the law of God in order to observe to do all that is written therein (Jos 1:8). b. Prosperous adj. – 1. Having continued success or good fortune; consistently successful; flourishing, thriving. c. The man who delights in the law of God will flourish like a tree planted by a river, and whatsoever he does shall prosper (Psa 1:3). d. Prosper v. – 1. a. intr. Of a person, community, etc.: To be prosperous, fortunate, or successful; to flourish, thrive, succeed, do well. e. The tabernacle of the upright shall flourish (Pro 14:11). f. The righteous will be planted in the house of God and will flourish all their lives (Psa 92:12-14). g. They will flourish because God is their rock upon which their faith is built (Psa 92:15).