Proverbs 11:4 (Mini Sermon)

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4. Pro 11:4 – "Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death." A. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: i. Definitions a. Riches n. – 1. Abundance of means or of valuable possessions; wealth. Also, in certain constructions, the possession of wealth, the condition of being rich. b. Profit v. – I. 1. intr. To make progress; to advance, go forward; to improve, prosper, grow, increase (in some respect). c. Wrath n. – Vehement or violent anger; intense exasperation or resentment; deep indignation. d. Righteous indignation on the part of the Deity. d. In other words, having an abundance of means and wealth will not cause one to make it through God's vehement and violent anger unscathed on the day of judgment. ii. While riches profit not in the day of wrath, treasures of wickedness profit nothing (Pro 10:2). iii. Rich men think that their wealth will protect them (Pro 18:11). a. But riches will not save men from death; they will die like everyone else (Psa 49:6-12). b. In fact, those who trust in their riches will sometimes die early as a result (Luk 12:16-21). c. Those who trust in their riches will fall (Pro 11:28). iv. When God's wrath is kindled and He judges a nation severely, money can become nearly worthless (2Ki 6:25). v. Gold and silver will not deliver a man from the wrath to come (Eze 7:19; Zep 1:18; Jam 5:1-3). a. This is true of temporal judgments from God on this earth. b. This is also true of the final judgment on the last day. vi. Although riches profit not in the day of wrath, they certainly do profit in the day of trouble. a. When your house needs a new $15,000 roof, having enough riches to comfortably write out a check to take care of it profits you. b. When your basement starts leaking and requires a $20,000 foundation repair, having enough riches to comfortably write out a check to take care of it profits you. c. When you need a new $20,000 septic system, having enough riches to comfortably write out a check to take care of it profits you. d. When your house needs a new multi-thousand dollar heating or air conditioning system, having enough riches to comfortably write out a check to take care of it profits you. e. When your car breaks down and it takes thousands of dollars to fix it, having enough riches to comfortably write out a check to take care of it profits you. f. When your car dies and you need $10-20K (or more) to replace it, having enough riches to comfortably write out a check to take care of it profits you. g. When an unexpected $5k, $10k, or $20k (or more) health problem happens which is not covered by insurance, having enough riches to comfortably write out a check to take care of it profits you. h. When your spouse needs to live in a nursing home at the cost of $50-$60k per year for a few years, having enough riches to cover the expense without losing your house profits you and your children. i. When your children, parents, siblings, or friends fall on hard times, having enough riches to comfortably write out a check to help them profits you and them. B. but righteousness delivereth from death. i. Definitions a. Righteousness n. – Justice, uprightness, rectitude; conformity of life to the requirements of the divine or moral law; virtue, integrity. b. Deliver v. – I. 1. trans. To set free, liberate, release, rescue, save. b. Now esp. To set free from restraint, imminent danger, annoyance, trouble, or evil generally. c. In other words, those who are upright, conform their lives to the requirements of God's law, and have virtue and integrity will be saved from death when God judges a nation or the world in the day of His wrath. ii. Riches are contrasted with righteousness in this verse. iii. Whereas riches will not profit nor deliver a man in the day of wrath, righteousness will. iv. The righteous who fear and trust God will be delivered from death and kept alive in famine (Psa 33:18-22). v. Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish (Pro 11:28). vi. Rather than grasping at riches, the righteous lay hold on Christ, "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:3). vii. Those who seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mat 6:33) will not be destroyed like the wicked who trust in their riches (Psa 52:5-7), but will be like a green olive tree flourishing in the house of God (Psa 52:8-9). viii. The saints who are clothed in the righteousness of Christ (Rev 19:8) will be delivered from death on the last day (Rev 20:9).