Proverbs 11:18 Wages and rewards_

The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward. Proverbs‬ ‭11:18‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The Rotherham translation says: “The lawless man earns the wages of falsehood, but he that sows righteousness has the reward of fidelity.” Fidelity is the observance of a promise, loyalty, or faithfulness (to your spouse), and accuracy.

We all work for something. And we want our work to result in pay. Period. But does it make a difference the way that we earn those wages? Solomon says it does. Deceptive wages, or those earned by deceit or falsehood, are dishonest. Claiming hours for time I didn’t work. Asking a higher price for something that has less or no value. Making yourself and your work out to be something it truly isn’t. When this occurs, one has transformed real work for the drama and showmanship of a salesman — making something into what it isn’t by making pompous claims, diverting attention away from the obvious flaw to something else. (Doesn’t this sound like a marketing position?) Deceit is insidious.

It goes without saying that someone who has a good character and operates in truthfulness does not make a living deceptively. But the uprightness, honesty and integrity of the children of God actually invest in an additional and parallel value. The very nature of being “righteous” not only provides the wages all men must work for, but also “the reward of fidelity.” If you could invest one dollar into something and it actually provides double the value, wouldn’t you do it? That’s what happens when you buy your neighbor’s Girl Scout cookies: you get the cookies, and the goodwill for supporting your neighbor.

The real reward of righteousness and fidelity is beyond earning wages and is something deeply satisfying — forgiveness and relationship with God. And as an extra, on earth there are still tangible benefits. Being faithful and devoted to your spouse comes at a cost, but the resulting relationship can pay many lifetimes of benefits. The knowledge of doing good, being honest and having a clear conscience earns an internal dividend. Our life may be lived without the hooks and impending doom of having a dark secret. Those seeking restitution have no need to find my door, yet for the other man, justice pursues like a hungry hound all of his life.

It’s ironic that the deceptive person asks twice the value for something worth half as much. But the righteous person receives many times for something that he offers at face value.

Let’s stack two columns side by side and compare the results of each approach to earning a living:

Deceptive wages produce:

• Real income… but based on something false
• The resulting prosperity from what is earned provides the appearance of success. Yet, inwardly the recipient knows it’s not authentic
• Eventually, living the lie becomes the “new” truth that person believes. The ego is inflated to the level of something false
• A constant fear of being found out
• The need to keep secrets, missing levels of intimacy with others because of lack of authenticity
• The need to defend yourself from those seeking justice
• Broken relationships with those who are deceived
• Wasted time in litigation
• Wasted time in jail or paying a penalty of some sort
• Ruined reputation
• Judgement, often first originating from yourself
• Deceiving spirits taking up residence within you because they find it such a comfortable place

He who sows righteousness gains:

• Real wages, with no sorrow attached
• A sense of reward and accomplishment, connecting what I do to what I receive (and ironically, real righteousness is based on grace — accepting what one has done for me)
• A community of people who will vouch for me
• Trust, both from myself and others
• Increased responsibility and stewardship
• Prosperity beyond what my expectations are set upon
• The confidence of my Father, God who promotes me (“Look at my servant Job…”)
• Ultimately, the true reward of eternal life with our Lord, avoiding the death penalty has been pronounced over all men

Such a simple proverb but with profound advice for living.