Prov 13:22

[abacabb3]

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

According to Matthew Henry:

How should good men grow so rich, who are not so eager upon the world as others are and who commonly suffer for their well-doing? It is here answered, God, in his providence, often brings into their hands that which wicked people had laid up for themselves. The innocent shall divide the silver, Job 27:16, 17. The Israelites shall spoil the Egyptians (Exod. 12:36) and eat the riches of the Gentiles, Isa. 61:6.

I have an issue with the above interpretation. It is observably untrue. "Riches" must mean something else than literal material wealth. So, if the righteous man leaves his children an inheritance that is not always literally wealth, just what exact "wealth" of the sinner is stored up for the righteous?


I tried interpreting this in light of Is 60-61, but it is just making more questions than it solves.

I appreciate any help!

 

[stenerson]

Ultimately the righteous shall inherit the Earth and enjoy it for eternity. The wicked only enjoy their wealth for a season.

 

[CheerfulGiving]

Thanks for posting what will probably be the start of a great discussion. I agree that the word 'wealth' is not referring to currency.

I remember reading a story about a wealthy man who hired a calligrapher to create a work of art that would be given as a gift to his son. He asked the artist to write characters to represent 'true prosperity'. The calligrapher wrote, "Father dies. Son dies. Grandson dies."

The wealthy sometimes struggle to keep their focus on our real world, the one that is not temporary. Wealth makes us want to pretend this fleeting existence is real, but nothing so temporary should be considered real. Like getting a camel through the eye of a needle, people with material wealth might struggle to get into the right state of mind for real salvation.

There's only one real kind of wealth, and it naturally leads to cheerful giving.

 

[abacabb3]

Ultimately the righteous shall inherit the Earth and enjoy it for eternity. The wicked only enjoy their wealth for a season.

How do the righteous specifically inherit the wicked's wealth, because the wicked own the world?

 

[stenerson]

How do the righteous specifically inherit the wicked's wealth, because the wicked own the world?

Yes, the wicked for the most part own the world. Scripture says we shouldn't envy them because they are simply being fattened for the kill.

 

[JM]

Ultimately the righteous shall inherit the Earth and enjoy it for eternity. The wicked only enjoy their wealth for a season.

Right! Passages like that and others found in the Psalms make me think Postmil has it right.

 

[stenerson]

Right! Passages like that and others found in the Psalms make me think Postmil has it right.

I more convinced of Amil position or [SIZE=+1]REALIZED MILLENNIALISM[/SIZE].

 

[JM]

I more convinced of Amil position or [SIZE=+1]REALIZED MILLENNIALISM[/SIZE].

Both views have some overlap.