Proverbs 10 … Consider the Riches of His Blessing

Originally posted: 1/03/2021

It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it, (10:22).

The subtitle for this proverb in the NASB reads “Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked.” When reading about what these two opposing lives produce, it’s hard to fathom that anyone would reject the life God desires to provide. This entire proverb is another invitation to experience life as God intended and to receive the Riches of His Blessing if we will but build our life on His everlasting foundation.

When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation, (10:25).

I remember the first time I read the words of Proverbs 10:22. It was 1984. Married just sixteen months, my husband and I were new believers who had come to faith in Christ eight months after we had eloped. Soon after, we felt a call to ministry; and together we were now attending the year-long School of Evangelism through our church in San Diego. Our studies were to culminate in a six-week mission trip into the interior of Mexico.

Starting a family was not in our plans, as medical tests ascertained it unlikely I would conceive without some type of surgical intervention. So, putting plans for a baby on hold, we moved forward full steam ahead, studying and preparing for the ultimate and arduous mission trip.

But during that time, the Lord saw fit to bless us with a miraculous pregnancy. When we first got the news of my pregnancy, we were elated and overwhelmed with gratitude. But there were many days in class when planning for the upcoming trip would be discussed, and I began to feel left out. Our teachers would inevitably refer to Mexico with a statement like, “When you guys get to Mexico…” And inside I was screaming, “One of us ‘guys’ is not going to Mexico!”

And as excited as I was to be carrying our baby girl, I wrestled with missing out on what I thought was supposed to be the highlight of our year in school. Later, I realized the preparation the Lord was graciously providing; for as every mom knows, missing out is a regular part of motherhood. But I was a baby believer; and as an extrovert who is energized through social interactions, I was aching at the thought of being excluded.

And then one morning, I read these words,

It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it, (10:22).

And I quickly recognized, if there was any sorrow being experienced, the Lord was not the One adding it. I had to repent for allowing His miraculous blessing to be overshadowed by my selfish desires. Once again, His Word changed my life.

So today, in this chapter filled with contrasts, this chapter that distinguishes the results of choosing God’s path or that of the world, let’s focus on this amazing truth: His Blessing makes us Rich, and He never, ever adds sorrow to it. Whatever the world throws our way, the Riches of His Blessing are eternal, and they can never be diminished or tainted.

Consider the Riches of His Blessing

• The Riches of His Blessing deliver us from death.
  • Ill-gotten gains do not profit,
    But righteousness delivers from death, (10:2).

• The Riches of His Blessing satisfy our soul.
  • The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger,
    But He will reject the craving of the wicked, (10:3).

• The Riches of His Blessing enable us to live a life of purpose.
  • The memory of the righteous is blessed,
    But the name of the wicked will rot, (10:7).

• The Riches of His Blessing secure our way.
  • He who walks in integrity walks securely,
    But he who perverts his ways will be found out, (10:9).

• The Riches of His Blessing pour forth His life and love.
  • The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
    ¹² Hatred stirs up strife,
    But love covers all transgressions, (10:11-12).

• The Riches of His Blessing bestow His gift of life.
  •  The wages of the righteous is life,
    The income of the wicked, punishment.
    ¹⁷ He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,
    But he who ignores reproof goes astray, (10:16-17).

• The Riches of His Blessing steady us to live for Him.
  • The righteous will never be shaken,
    But the wicked will not dwell in the land, (10:30).

How do we respond to the Riches of His Blessing?

It’s what we choose to dwell on that will settle this truth in our soul. Trials and afflictions only add sorrow when we give them more attention than the Riches of His Blessing that we have received through Christ as our everlasting foundation.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Ephesians 1:3).

There is nothing we are lacking, nothing that can eclipse the Riches of His Blessing. Today, let’s close by fixing our thoughts on a few encouragements from His Word of Truth to help solidify this reality in our heart; for truly “it is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.”

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
⁶ The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me, (Psalm 16:5-6).

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see
the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living, (Psalm 27:13).

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope,” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal, (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Today, let’s choose to dwell on what is True. “It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” And as we choose to believe His Truth, He will empower us to see all that is honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy in our lives through the Riches of His Blessing.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things, (Philippians 4:8).

Let’s Grow Together!