Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
        but righteousness delivers from death.

Proverbs 10:2 ESV

All people must wrestle to understand the perennial question of why the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. Thankfully, God does not leave us to grapple with that question alone. The Book of Job is the most obvious example. After the first two chapters set both Job’s godliness and suffering before us, the bulk of the book then becomes an argument between Job and his three friends about the nature of suffering. Job’s friends contend that suffering comes from wickedness; therefore, Job’s suffering reveals sin that needs to be repented of. Job maintains his innocence, and after being humbled by God’s appearing, Job is vindicated by God to his friends.

Psalm 73 is another powerful example. In that psalm, Asaph admits to being envious of the prosperity of the wicked, so envious that his “feet almost stumbled” (v. 2). Yet after entering God’s sanctuary, he “discerned their end” (v. 17). Asaph notes that even in their prosperity the wicked are primed for their coming destruction, whereas the righteous even in their suffering are upheld firmly by God Himself.

That reality is what we also find present within this proverb. Although the wicked may appear to prosper, their treasures do not profit them. They certainly may have treasures, even vast stores of wealth. Indeed, many of the wealthiest people who have ever lived have been undeniably wicked. Yet for all their wealth and the power that it bought them, it ultimately did not profit them. All of the profit that they made through their wickedness was fundamentally deceptive. It was not profit at all but a snare, pulling them further into the pit. Indeed, those who have died in their wickedness would surely trade away all of their earthly treasures for even one single moment’s reprieve from their eternal torment. The wicked who are living are primed for the same fate. None of their treasures will spare them from the wrath of the Holy One whom they have scorned.

Righteousness, however, delivers from death. This is affirmed in the New Testament as well. As 1 Timothy 4:8 says, “godliness is of value [or is profitable] in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

Of course, our righteousness and godliness only come through Jesus Christ, who has made us righteous before God by the sacrifice of Himself for our sins. And this imputed righteousness of Christ does truly deliver from death. As Jesus said to Martha before raising her brother Lazarus from the dead, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this” (John 11:25-26)? Although physical death will still happen to God’s people, death has no hold on them. They are in Christ, who is life.

Christian, do not let the suffering of the righteous nor the prosperity of the wicked allow your feet to slip. Do not envy the wealth and ease of the wicked. Death comes for the mighty and rich as steadily as for the weak and impoverished, and then comes judgment. On that great day, prosperity and ease will not deliver the wicked from God’s righteous wrath, but being forgiven in Christ, we will enter into the eternal joy of our Master. Do you believe this?