Pity the Wicked

For Thursday, July 14, 2005
Proverbs 11:7

When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,
and the expectation of wealth perishes too.

Pity the wicked. Their hope will perish. All their dreams, what drives them to live, will vanish. If they are fortunate, their hope will perish while in their lifetime. Thus, they might come to their senses like the prodigal son, repent, and turn to God. But if they are not shown such mercy, their wealth and earthly success might grow, leaving them blind to their destiny. They are like the hypocrites that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 6:16, who obtain their goal of receiving earthly recognition for false spirituality. They obtain their reward they are seeking, and it is all they will obtain, for God sees all and will give the appropriate eternal reward.

Has someone taken an inheritance that should have been yours? Has someone unethically taken credit you should have received, been promoted over you? Pray for God's mercy upon him. For his earthly success only serves to blind him to his poverty. But don't let his success blind you to your riches. What may the righteous in Christ expect? "An inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:4-5). That is wealth beyond measure that you cannot lose. Now that's a good deal!