Proverbs 11:28 Trust and growth_

Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

Rotherham translates: “He that trusts in his riches, the same will fall (fade, whither away). But like the leaf shall the righteous break forth (bud, sprout, shoot).

Trust is a powerful word and a deep topic. It comes from a Hebrew root meaning to go quickly to refuge, and figuratively to be confident or sure — to be bold, confident, secure, sure, to put confidence in, or make to hope. Confidence or reliance on another is something that begins intrinsically, and over time is based on a reputation and history. Although you may quickly trust someone or something new, from that point forward there is a record internally of how that one responds to the trust given and further levels of trust become more refined. Being in a state of trust is a powerful… and a disposition in life that accelerates well-being.

Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-7‬ ‭MSG‬‬‬‬‬‬

Wealth can be such a blessing. We trade our time for money when we work hourly wages. That exchange can yield minimum wage, or a partner’s salary in the millions. Having a lot of cash allows me to be more selective about how I spend my time. It gives me more freedoms to come and go. Build and buy. There is no question that wealth can be good. When our Heavenly Father put us on this earth, he did so with the intent that resources would available and people’s needs would be met. There would be plenty in everything. Food. Shelter. Rest. Pleasure. Activities. His intent was blessing at every turn. This was how it began for us in the garden.

When a child is born, it is absolutely dependent upon its mother. Reliance upon her is not a choice. Trust and childish dependence is the natural order of things. When Adam was created his relationship with his Papa/Mama was the same. Trusting in others good intent for me is normal. Nothing needs to be proved, explained, laid out, signed and notarized.

Yet, after sin entered Adam’s heart and the sentence of death was delivered, there was another penalty: “Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you shall eat the plants of the field’ By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken…” Work is required and scarcity results when you don’t. It is a system of differentiators. Having and not having are now results of our choices. And those that have, have an opportunity to wield preeminence over those who don’t.

Wealth has become synonymous with power.

Yet, possessions do not have a heart or soul. Riches sitting in a pile of gold, or a pasture of cows, or a city of buildings or land, does just that: sit. Money cannot intend or wish blessing or safety for anyone. There is nothing about money that is worthy of trust. So how can one trust in it?

And think about it further. When I do have money, where may I use it? On earth. Here and now. There are jokes about dying and having one’s coffin stashed with cash or prized possessions to take to the next life. Yet as silly as that seems, some of us would actually try to do that if we thought it would help. Why abandon a life of work if I didn’t think it had value? But what I have here and now is already cursed. There is only one place to put my confidence and that’s in the remedy that my Father gives. To trust only in this life is like trusting in a wreck.

I love how David, Solomon’s dad, frames up this distinction:

Why should I fear when wicked deceivers surround me— those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? The ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— so that they should live on forever and not see decay. Portions of Psalm‬ ‭49:5-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬

Back to the botanical word picture in the proverb, the Message Bible expresses it this way:

A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree. Proverbs‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Having your confidence and trust in riches, or more accurately, in yourself and in this present life is like a tree that is fallen. It withers, or dries up. Even if the money remains, it does not have life. The word “fall” may be interpreted many ways: cast down, self, lots, out, cease, die, divide by lot, let fail, to fall. But the picture I see is that of something big and imposing, or someone who has succeeded in earth’s economy and has something to boast about. When you rise to the top you tend to have a target on your back. Others want to beat you. Outdo you. Succeed where you didn’t. Competition is fierce and if you’re in the top spot, there is only one way to go. But more important is what is taking place internally. There is no life flow from wealth. The Holy Spirit is the water of life and it’s easy for His stream to dry up when my when I journey to the desert of trusting wealth.

In contrast, the vigor of the healthy, juice-flowing vine sends it’s life-giving essence to new growth and to the leaves. It buds and blooms. Jesus said being connected to him produces growth and new life constantly.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. John‬ ‭15:4-6‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬

I am a child of God, connected to the living vine. I do not have to work at growth and flourishing, the DNA within me, the new life coursing through my veins, is programmed for increase, prosperity and a future. The green leaf has within it all the chlorophyll needed to collect the sun’s light and in essence is a biological factory. I value and appreciate provision and wealth, but I will never trust in it. Just like when my mom packed me a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, I don’t trust the sandwich, rather, I am thankful for the mom who made it. And maybe she has cookies waiting for me when I come home…