Bridges on Proverbs 11:28
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 11:28
 
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28.  He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
 
Here is the cause and misery of the fall. Man seeks his rest in God's blessings, in opposition to himself. (Jeremiah 9:23, 24.) Riches are one of his grounds of trust. (Chapter 10:15. Luke 12:19.) He depends on them, as the saint upon his God. (Chapter 18:10, 11.) And is not this the “denial of the God that is above”? (Job 31:24, 25, 28.) A revolting truth indeed! such as only the heart crucified to the world by the cross of Christ can receive. Not that the possession of riches is a sin, but the trusting in them. (Mark 10:24.) Nor may it be always wrong to improve an opportunity of increasing them. But no one that cares for his own soul, and believes the testimony of God (Mark 10:25-27. 1 Timothy 6:9, 10), will seek the opportunity; or even avail himself of it without a plain call, and clear advantage for the glory of God. (1 Timothy 6:18, 19.) Let God be our satisfying portion. Let him be supremely loved and honoured, and he will determine for us, whether the worldly advantage be a Providence or a temptation.
Disappointment will be the certain end of this trust. (Psalm 49:6-12. Ecclesiastes 5:10, 11.) When we need a staff, we shall find a piercing spear. (1 Timothy 6:10.) Or we shall fall, like the withered leaf or blossom before the blast. (Deuteronomy 8:17-19.) And how many a lovely blossom has thus fallen! (Mark 10:21, 22.) Thus does “the rich man fade away in his ways!” (James 1:10, 11.)
But the righteous is the branch; not like the leaf or blossom, easily shaken and withered; but abiding in the true vine: full of life and fruit. (John 15:5.) There may be, as in nature's winter, times of apparent barrenness. But the spring returns, and with it the branch flourishes; never ceasing from yielding fruit; yea — “filled with the fruit of righteousness” (Jeremiah 17:8): the branch of “the LORD's planting; the work of his hands, that he may be glorified;” to be transplanted in his own best time to the other side of the river, where “the leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed.” (Isaiah 60:21. Ezekiel 47:12.) Shall not this prospect fill us with lively joy and praise?
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jeremiah 9:23, 24
23 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
 
 
Proverbs 10:15
15 ¶ The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
 
Luke 12:19
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
 
 
Proverbs 18:10, 11
10 ¶ The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. {safe: Heb. set aloft} 11 ¶ The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
 
 
Job 31:24, 25, 28.
24 ¶ If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; 25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; {gotten...: Heb. found much} 28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
 
 
Footnote:
See the gift of God to Abraham, Genesis 24:35; to David 1 Chronicles 29:12; to Solomon 2 Chronicles 1:11, 12; to Job, 42:11, 12.
 

 
See the gift of God to Abraham,
Genesis 24:35
35 And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
 
to David,
1 Chronicles 29:12
12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
 
to Solomon,
2 Chronicles 1:11, 12
11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
 
to Job,
Job 42:11, 12
11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. 12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mark 10:24
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
 
 
Mark 10:25-27
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
 
1 Timothy 6:9, 10
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. {erred: or, been seduced}
 
 
1 Timothy 6:18, 19
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; {willing...: or, sociable} 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
 
 
Psalm 49:6-12
6 ¶ They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) 9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. 10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. {all...: Heb. generation and generation} 12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
 
Ecclesiastes 5:10, 11
10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
 
 
1 Timothy 6:10
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. {erred: or, been seduced}
 
 
Deuteronomy 8:17-19
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
 
 
Mark 10:21, 22
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
 
 
James 1:10, 11
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
 
 
Footnote:
See the same contrast, Psalm 52:7, 8.
 

 
Psalm 52:7, 8
7 Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. {wickedness: or, substance} 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
 
 
John 15:5
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. {without me: or, severed from me}
 
 
Jeremiah 17:8
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. {drought: or, restraint}
 
 
Isaiah 60:21
21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
 
Ezekiel 47:12
12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. {shall grow: Heb. shall come up} {new: or, principal} {for medicine: or, for bruises and sores}