Bridges on Proverbs 28:20
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 28:20
 
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20.  A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. {innocent: or, unpunished}
 
The study of the contrast shews the definite meaning of the terms. A faithful man is opposed, not to the rich, but — mark the careful accuracy — to him that hasteth to be rich. A man may be rich by the blessing of God.† He hasteth to be rich by his own covetousness. (1 Timothy 6:10.) He may be rich, and yet faithful. He hasteth to be rich at the expense of faithfulness.† The faithful man makes no loud profession. But he bears to be looked at, even in the veriest trifles. (Luke 16:10.) He is true to his word. He fulfills his engagements. He has only one principle — “unto the Lord;” under his eye; in his presence; “to his glory.”† Try his principle by a worldly bait. He will prefer his conscience to his interest. He would rather be poor by Providence, than rich by sin. This is the “man of faithfulness. Who shall find him?”† But when you have found him, mark his abounding blessing; blessings covering his head;† blessings for both worlds.† Is there not infinitely more promise in the ways of God, than in the ways of sin? Be the path ever so tried and perplexed, only let it be a straight path,† and the Lord's sunshine will cheer it. ‘In the hand of God’ — saith a wise man — ‘is the prosperity of man.’†
But the man who has no faith, can only walk in a crooked path. He leaps over every bound of principle. He hasteth to be rich. He cannot wait for God in the path of Christian diligence. The promise does not run fast enough for him. He becomes rich too soon; he scarcely knows or cares by what means; by any means, rather than lose his grasp. Yet all this haste is only to his own ruin. Instead of abounding with blessings, he shall not be innocent. Jacob, as a faithful man, was paid with full wages for his work. Though his master dealt hardly, God dealt bountifully with him. He abounded with blessings; while Laban, hasting to be rich, was impoverished. (Genesis 31:7-9.) ‘I will study more’ — said good Bp. Hall — ‘how to give account of my little, than how to make it more.’
Hard indeed, if not impossible, is it to hold fast innocency in this path of temptation.† ‘Yet how does the Scripture combat the vice of covetousness? Not by asserting that gold is only earth, exhibiting itself under a particular modification, and therefore not worth seeking; but by telling us, that “covetousness is idolatry,” that “the love of money is the root of all evil;” that it has occasioned in some even the “shipwreck of their faith,” and is always, in whomsoever it obtains, an abomination?’† Even if no criminal means be resorted to, yet the immoderate desire, the perseverance in every track of Mammon, the laboring night and day for the grand object, the delight and confidence in the acquisition (Job 31:25) — all prove the idolatrous heart (Ib. verses 24, 28), and will not go unpunished. “They that will be rich — that haste to be rich — fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, that drown men in destruction and perdition. But thou, O man of God, flee these things.” (1 Timothy 6:9-11.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 10:22. Genesis 24:35. 1 Kings 3:13.
 
 
Proverbs 10:22
22 ¶ The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
 
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.
 
1 Kings 3:13
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. {shall...: or, hath not been}
 
 
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}
 
 
Footnote:
Verse 22. Chapter 19:2; 20:14. Even the heathen moralists could see this —
OudeiV eplouthse tacewV dikaioV wn. Menander.
 
. . . . . ‘Nam dives qui fieri vult,
Et cito vult fieri; sed quae reverentia legum?
Quis metus, aut pudor est unquam properantis avari?’ Juv. Sat. 14. 176-178.
 
 
Proverbs 28:22
22 ¶ He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. {hasteth...: or, hath and evil eye hasteth to be rich}
 
Proverbs 19:2
2 ¶ Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
 
Proverbs 20:14
14 ¶ It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
 
 
Luke 16:10
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
 
 
Footnote:
Colossians 3:23. 1 Corinthians 10:31.
 
 
Colossians 3:23
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
 
1 Corinthians 10:31
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
 
 
Footnote:
Heb. Chapter 20:6. Matthew 24:45.
 
 
Proverbs 20:6
6 ¶ Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? {goodness: or, bounty}
 
Matthew 24:45
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 10:6.
 
 
Proverbs 10:6
6 ¶ Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 37:37; 112. Isaiah 33:15, 16.
 
 
Psalm 37:37
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
 
Psalm 112
1 ¶ Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. {Praise...: Heb. Hallelujah} 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. {discretion: Heb. judgment} 6 ¶ Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. 9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. 10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
 
Isaiah 33:15, 16
15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; {righteously: Heb. in righteousnesses} {uprightly: Heb. uprightnesses} {oppressions: or, deceits} {blood: Heb. bloods} 16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. {high: Heb. heights, or, high places}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 4:26, 27. Hebrews 12:13.
 
 
Proverbs 4:26, 27
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. {let...: or, all thy ways shall be ordered aright} 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
 
Hebrews 12:13
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. {straight: or, even}
 
 
Footnote:
Ecclesiasticus 10:5.
 
 
Ecclesiasticus 10:5
5 In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.
 
 
Genesis 31:7-9
7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. 8 If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. 9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
 
 
Footnote:
2 Kings 5:25, 27. Compare chapter 13:11; 20:21; 21:6.
 
 
2 Kings 5:25, 27
25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. {no whither: Heb. not hither or thither}
27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
 
Compare
Proverbs 13:11
11 ¶ Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. {by labour: Heb. with the hand}
 
Proverbs 20:21
21 ¶ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
 
Proverbs 21:6
6 ¶ The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
 
 
Footnote:
Cowper's cursory Remarks on Carrocioli. Works. Southey's Ed. vii. 273.
 
 
Job 31:25
25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; {gotten...: Heb. found much}
 
 
Job 31:24, 28
24 ¶ If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; 28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
 
 
1 Timothy 6:9-11
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} 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.