Bridges on Proverbs 21:20

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 21:20


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20. There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

To love an earthly treasure is the way to poverty. (Verse 17.) Yet we may thankfully enjoy the prudent gathering, as the fruit of the LORD's blessing (Chapter 10:22), like the oil of Canaan,† for refreshment. This is not the forbidden “laying up for ourselves treasures upon earth” (Matthew 6:19), a hoarding for selfishness and distrust of God. (Luke 12:16-22.) This treasure is in the dwelling of the wise. For prudence is not worldliness (Chapter 10:5. Genesis 41:48); an indifference to coming trial, is not faith, but foolish simplicity. (Chapter 22:3.)

Even the cottage of the godly poor often contains this desirable treasure, the reward of Christian diligence. Yet poor indeed is the palace, where the Bible with its stores of unsearchable riches is not the grand treasure, and where the oil of gladness, while it poureth out richly, is not his choicest comfort.† Wherever this treasure is pre-eminently prized, this is the dwelling of the wise, whether it be the prince or the pauper. And, as Cecil, Queen Elizabeth's Secretary, said, on leaving Bernard Gilpin's house — ‘There dwells as much happiness as can be known on earth’ — how shall we joy to be found in the same world with such men!

But whatever be the treasure of the foolish man, or however obtained, his improvidence is a wide gulf to spend it up. All goes one way. Drunkenness, wasteful expenditure, idleness, gambling, devours it all. He serves a master, who will leave him nothing at the year's end, and as the only reward of his drudgery, will bring him to utter destitution. Such was the prodigal's course; yet in the gracious mercy of his Father the means of changing him from his folly into a better mind, and bringing him to the dwelling of the wise; a possessor of a treasure more desirable, than his earthly appetite had longed for. (Luke 15:13-24.)

But there are other foolish men besides the drunkard and the spend-thrift; and other treasure infinitely more desirable, that is spent up. Admission to the dwelling of the wise — the opportunity of thus growing rich in knowledge and holiness (Chapter 13:20) — what a “price would it be in the hands of a fool,” had he but “an heart for it!” But the golden moment is lost; the treasure is spent up. Time is wasted in reckless frivolity of pursuit in innumerable ways. The entire absence of an holy aim in his daily employments deadens all sense of responsibility. He lives only as the creature of the present moment, with no object connected with eternity. Oh! my God! leave me not to my own folly, lest I spend up my treasure, instead of trading with it, and thus enlarging it for my best welfare.

Proverbs 21:17

17 ¶ He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. {pleasure: or, sport}

Proverbs 10:22

22 ¶ The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Footnote:

See note on verse 17.

This refers to a footnote from Bridges' comments on Chapter 21:17, found in the middle of the first paragraph, at the end of the following sentence:

“,,, one of the most precious fruits of Canaan† ,,,”

— Go to that sentence —

— Go directly to that footnote —

— Go to Bridges' comments on Provers 21:17 —

Matthew 6:19

19 ¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal

Luke 12:16-22

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 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. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? {thy...: Gr. do they require thy soul} 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 22 ¶ And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

Proverbs 10:5

5 ¶ He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

Genesis 41:48

48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.

Proverbs 22:3

3 ¶ A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Footnote:

Treasure and oil are mentioned; first the general term, then one of its valuable items. A similar idiom may be found, Mark 16:7.

Incorrect reference (?) Mark 16:7 reads:

Mark 16:7

7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

Luke 15:13-24

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. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Proverbs 13:20

20 ¶ He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. {destroyed: Heb. broken}