3/10/26

Proverbs 10:2 NASB95 Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death.

Ill-gotten, means a wrong or wicked manner was used to receive. It could be stealing, cheating, taking advantage of someone else, lying, or even finding but not seeking the correct ownership. There are many ways a person can come about gains.

Gains, means treasure. It can be physical, spiritual, or emotional treasure. It just needs to have value. The value can be personal or corporate.

This scripture makes it clear that if this treasure is not received in a righteous way it will not in the end be profitable. For there to be a profit there must be in the end an increase above the cost.

An example would be you have two apples one is ripe the other is almost ripe. Someone says if you give me your almost ripe apple I will give you two ripe apples.

You take the deal and you are excited because it appears you have profited 1 apple. Except when you finish eating your ripe apple the other two have started to rot. When finishing eating the good half of the second apple the last apple is rotten and not edible. You now realize you didn't profit at all. In fact, you lost half an apple.

According to our verse, this is the kind of results you can expect when your gain comes from unrighteousness.

However, the text continues, righteousness delivers from death.

Imagine you purchased the two apples and you make the trade. Then the two ripe apples you received you give them to two people who have no apples.

Now there are three people who have their hunger satisfied because you acted in a Godly manner (righteous) plus none of the apples went to waste.

The Lord has blessed the lives of the other two through you.

Listen to the next verse. Proverbs 10:3 NASB95 The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He will reject the craving of the wicked.

When we read this we can better see that the context is in the furtherance of God's Kingdom Righteousness.

When you focus on your needs at all costs instead of trusting the Lord and living for Him, you will crave His blessings of peaceful satisfaction to no avail. However, when you focus on Him and His desires, you will be filled to overflowing so that you can allow others to feast with you.

Righteous gain, is to gain life!

Unrighteous gain, is to lose life. You only gain death which has no value.

Praying you profit life in the righteousness of Christ

Love Bro. Scott