Bridges on Proverbs 21:17
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 21:17
 
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17.  He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. {pleasure: or, sport}
 
What then? are we to have no pleasure? This were indeed to drive men from religion. Why — pleasure is the very character of the ways of God (Chapter 3:17); pleasure infinitely more satisfying “than in the time that corn and wine increased.” (Psalm 4:6, 7.) Are we not, again, to rejoice in our earthly comforts? “The living God giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” This large flow of happiness is more than doubled by the rule of “thanksgiving.” (1 Timothy 4:4, 5.) Yet, strange as it may seem, the way to enjoy pleasure is not to love it; to live above it; to “rejoice as though we rejoiced not; to use the world, as not abusing it” (1 Corinthians 7:30, 31); never pursuing it as our portion, or as making the happiness of an immortal being. The man, who gives his whole heart and time to the love of pleasure, and sacrifices to it all his prudence and foresight, is surely on the highroad to poverty. On the same road is he that loveth wine, under the power of a “mocking delusion.” He that loveth oil — one of the most precious fruits of Canaan — may find, that ‘those who could not live without dainties came to want necessaries.’ But the most melancholy sight in the universe is the man, immured in the prison-house of selfishness, who sacrifices to the love of pleasure the interest of his immortal soul. Salvation is thrown away as a thing of nought. Fearful indeed is the poverty, the utter, eternal ruin of this willful infatuation. “Woe unto you that are rich; for ye have received your consolation. Son! remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”
Youth indeed dreams of uninterrupted pleasure, and sees not the illusion of the charming perspective. But earthly joys are vain indeed. They may leave us; we must leave them. To place our happiness in this, is to build upon the wave, which rolls from under us, and plunges us into the depths of despondency.
But the double-dealing professor asks — ‘May we not combine the two pleasures of the world and religion?’ But the object of the man of God is, first to awaken, then to satisfy, a holy appetite. And for this end he knows he must separate himself from all that mixture of worldly pleasure, which, while so far from quickening or nourishing, tends utterly to quench it.
‘Thrice fools are we’ — exclaims a glowing Christian — ‘who, like new babes in the cradle, know not that there is a kingdom before them!’ What wonder, that those who know not heaven should take their portion on earth! But should not the heirs of heaven live above the love of earth, having no more sympathy with the sensual devotee; than with the pleasure of “the sow wallowing in the mire”? Mark well, then, the danger and temptation, the need of unceasing watchfulness, that in the necessary use you keep within its due measure — the heart loosened here, and fixed above. (Luke 21:34.) For should you be growing in the love of earthly pleasure, you shall be a poor man, indeed; growing indifferent to prayer; heartless and dead to God; fancying shadows to be substance, and despising the true substance as a shadow. Heavenly pleasures will lose their sweetness, as earthly pleasures are relished. ‘Certainly the more a man drinketh of the world, the more it intoxicateth.’ Our spiritual character is our glory. Personal holiness is indispensable to the spiritual enjoyments. Keep then ever before you, as the witness of your better experience, the emptiness and bitterness of the world's pleasures, and the all-sufficiency of your real portion. And shall a man's appetite and poisoned taste, blot out these records — this solemn judgment of experience? God forbid!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 3:17
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
 
 
Psalm 4:6, 7
6 ¶ There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Timothy 6:17. Compare Ecclesiastes 2:26; 3:22; 9:7-9.
 

 
1 Timothy 6:17
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; {uncertain...: Gr. uncertainty of riches}
 
Compare
Ecclesiastes 2:26
26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. {in his...: Heb. before him}
 
Ecclesiastes 3:22
22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
 
Ecclesiastes 9:7-9
7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. {Live...: Heb. See, or, Enjoy life}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Timothy 4:4, 5
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
 
 
Footnote:
It is a fine remark of Cyprian's — ‘The greatest pleasure is to have conquered pleasure; nor is there any greater victory than that, which is gained over our own appetites.’ — De bono Pudicitiae.
 
 
1 Corinthians 7:30, 31
30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
 
 
Footnote:
Verse 20. The instance of the profligate, 5:10, 11; of Samson, Judges 16:1-21; of the Prodigal, Luke 15:13-16.
 

 
Proverbs 21:20
20 ¶ There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
 
The instance of the profligate,
Proverbs 5:10, 11
10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; {thy wealth: Heb. thy strength} 11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
 
of Samson
Judges 16:1-21
1 ¶ Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her. {harlot: Heb. a woman an harlot} 2 And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. {quiet: Heb. silence} 3 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron. {bar...: Heb. with the bar} 4 ¶ And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. {in...: or, by the brook} 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. {afflict: or, humble} 6 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee. 7 And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. {green...: or, new cords: Heb. moist} {another: Heb. one} 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. {green...: or, new cords: Heb. moist} 9 Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known. {toucheth: Heb. smelleth} 10 And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound. 11 And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. {that never...: Heb. wherewith work hath not been done} 12 Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread. 13 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web. 14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web. 15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. 16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; {vexed: Heb. shortened} 17 That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. 18 ¶ And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. 19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. 20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. 21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. {put out: Heb. bored out}
 
of the Prodigal,
Luke 15:13-16
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 20:1; 23:21.
 

 
Proverbs 20:1
1 ¶ Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
 
Proverbs 23:21
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
 
 
Footnote:
Deuteronomy 8:8; 11:14. Judges 9:9. Psalm 23:5. Micah 6:15. Habakkuk 3:17.
 

 
Deuteronomy 8:8
8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; {of oil...: Heb. of olive tree of oil}
 
Deuteronomy 11:14
14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
 
Judges 9:9
9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? {go...: or, go up and down for other trees}
 
Psalm 23:5
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. {anointest: Heb. makest fat}
 
Micah 6:15
15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
 
Habakkuk 3:17
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: {fail: Heb. lie}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Henry in loco. Compare Isaiah 32:9-12; 47:8, 9. Zephaniah 2:15. Revelation 18:7.
 

 
Compare
Isaiah 32:9-12
9 ¶ Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech. 10 Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. {Many...: Heb. Days above a year} 11 Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins. 12 They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. {pleasant...: Heb. fields of desire}
 
Isaiah 47:8, 9
8 Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: 9 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
 
Zephaniah 2:15
15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
 
Revelation 18:7
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Ecclesiastes 11:9. 1 Timothy 5:6. 2 Timothy 3:4. 1 Peter 4:3-5.
 

 
Ecclesiastes 11:9
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
 
1 Timothy 5:6
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. {in...: or, delicately}
 
2 Timothy 3:4
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
 
1 Peter 4:3-5
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 ¶ Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
 
 
Footnote:
Luke 6:24; 16:25. Compare Psalm 17:14.
 

 
Luke 6:24
24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
 
Luke 16:25
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
 
Compare
Psalm 17:14
14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. {which are: or, by} {they...: or, their children are full}
 
 
Footnote:
Rutherford's Letters.
 
 
Luke 21:34
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
 
 
Footnote:
Lord Bacon's Essays.
 
 
Footnote:
Ecclesiastes 2:11.
 

 
Ecclesiastes 2:11
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 14:13.
 

 
Proverbs 14:13
13 ¶ Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 16:5, 6; 17:15; 73:25, 26.
 

 
Psalm 16:5, 6
5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. {of mine...: Heb. of my part} 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
 
Psalm 17:15
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
 
Psalm 73:25, 26
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. {strength: Heb. rock}