“It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” (Proverbs 10:22-26, NASB)

Today’s reading offers a compelling perspective on the relationship between wealth and the sorrow that accompanies it. No one will argue that financial wealth is without its pains. There are sorrows associated with theft, taxes, and people’s greed, among other things. Further, the ultimate sorrow associated with wealth is death, for no one can take their possessions into the next life. However, Solomon provides an interesting view of experiencing God’s blessing, a blessing of wealth without sorrow. It says,

“It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it. Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool; and so is wisdom to a man of understanding. What the wicked fears will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted. When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation. Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him.”

Solomon was not only the wisest man on earth, but also the richest and wealthiest. Therefore, he knew a thing or two about sorrow that came with wealth. However, from his experience, he concluded that when God blesses a person, they can enjoy a life of wealth without sorrow. Verse 22 clearly states, “It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” What do you think? Can a person experience a life of wealth without pain and sorrow today if he follows this advice? It is clear that Solomon was talking about gaining wealth through righteous living, integrity in work, and diligence in attitude, rather than ill-gotten gain.

First, he contrasts the lifestyles of the righteous and the fool, writing, “Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool; and so is wisdom to a man of understanding.” For the unrighteous, the wicked way of life is fun, exciting, and pleasurable. It is also true for the righteous, but with wisdom. It speaks of the state of their heart, and whether they live with the fear of God, who is the Judge of all things. If we truly believe that God will one day judge us, we will seek to live in a way that is right in His eyes. In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Solomon writes, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

Second, he contrasts the quality of work between the righteous and the fool, writing, “When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.” To test the quality of work in production, the products must be tested under stress. Many people call it a “stress test.” Likewise, God tests the quality of our work through suffering, pain, trials, and storms of life. The word “whirlwind” immediately provides a picture of a tornado-like storm that rips through a town, destroying everything in its path. It means anyone without a foundation in God will be uprooted and carried away, for it is He who will keep things steady and anchored in times of storm. Jesus said, “And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall” (Mt.7:26-27). In other words, the true quality of our work is determined by whether we live, work, and speak in integrity according to His words or not. The Bible seems to say that when we have integrity with God, He promises to be our foundation and anchor.

Third, Solomon contrasts the attitudes of the righteous and the fools, writing, “Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him.” To an employer, a lazy worker is as irritating as vinegar in the mouth or smoke in the eyes. Without saying so, however, he implies the opposite is true. To an employer, a diligent worker is sweet, pleasant, and beautiful to see. I believe the Bible to be true, and therefore, it is possible to enjoy wealth without sorrow. To me, 2 Corinthians 9:8 is a perfect commentary on how to live in wealth without sorrow. It says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” It means when we seek to live for God and His kingdom, He will see to it that we never run out of wealth and resources! Sorrow comes when we strive to hoard wealth for ourselves, but blessings never run out when we seek to use it for His kingdom.

• What do you think Solomon meant by God’s blessing of making one rich without adding sorrow to it?
• Can Christians be rich and have wealth today?
• How are righteous living and wealth without sorrow related?