A death-blow seems struck at selfishness in the following verses. They open with a maxim expressly framed to startle souls and call for reflection. But the more the words are weighed, their certainty appears all the clearer and the more important.
“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is right, but only to want.
The blessing soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
He that withholdeth corn, the people curse him; but blessing [shall be] upon the head of him that selleth [it].
He that is earnest after good seeketh favor; but he that searcheth after mischief, it shall come upon him.
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a green leaf.
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit wind; and the fool [shall be] servant to the wise of heart.
The fruit of the righteous [is] as a tree of life; and the wise winneth souls.
Behold, the righteous shall be requited on the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner!” (vers. 24-31).
Even agriculture, trade, and commerce, illustrate faith in the unseen, however severed from that sovereign grace which is the spring of blessing in the spiritual realm. But increase as the result cannot be without judgment along the way. On the other hand niggardliness and fear cannot ward off want, nor do they deserve it. He who is alone worthy of all trust, and even in a scene of confusion holds the reins, is entitled to form and guide the heart, and He loves a cheerful giver.
Hence the blessing or liberal one is richly blessed, and the waterer of others, according to this expressive figure, gets watered himself. Have we not known it here and there, if we have not proved it as we ought? See its perfection in Him Who at the well of Sychar touched the core of the fatal evil, that the Spirit might act as the fountain of His living water springing up to life eternal, Himself finding His food in doing the will of the One Who sent Him.
Next we hear the people, on the other side, cursing the withholder of corn in the time of want and suffering to enrich himself; as surely as blessing does not fail to be on his head that fairly disposes of it. See it in the beautiful tale of Joseph during Egypt's years of famine. Alas! the sad story prevails to-day too often where the glad one should be heard.
Now we are shown a larger and higher application. He that is earnest, or rises early, after good seeks favor, nor does he fail as the rule to procure it. How pleasant it is in His eyes Who alone is absolutely and essentially good! But what can one look for in divine government, but that mischief shall come upon him that is industrious in devising it? What a solemn and sudden witness of it in Haman the Jews' enemy during their servitude to the Gentile; as of no less favor is in Mordecai!
Precarious indeed is confidence in riches, as we are next told; for they certainly make for themselves wings and flee away as an eagle toward heaven. No wonder then that he that trusts in them shall fall. On the other hand righteousness endures, whatever comes from without; so that the wise man can say that the righteous shall flourish as the branch or green leaf. He is, as David sung, like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in season, and with leaf also that withers not. “Your bones,” said the prophet, “shall flourish like the tender grass.” For the Christian this is through abiding in Christ.
Verse 29 brings before us the man “that troubleth his own house.” This might be by one or other of the aforesaid objectionable ways; undue scattering, or undue withholding. By either course not only is his own house made a scene of vexation, but the end for himself is the wind, a heritage of nothing but disappointment. “The fool” seems to sink still lower, and becomes servant to those who are “wise of heart,” the very reverse of his own heartless inconsiderateness.
How contrasted with persons so failing in righteous wisdom is that which is next set before us. “The fruit of the righteous is as a tree of life; and the wise winneth souls.” A tree is a noble object in the landscape, but the fruit of the righteous is far beyond such a comparison; it is as “a tree of life.” They are blessed and a blessing. But the wise rises yet higher, and wins souls; or he that wins souls is wise: a work impossible without divine love constraining, a divine fear communicated by the word and Spirit of God. How richly the gospel of His grace now produces both! How sad where it does not!
The chapter closes with a vivid call to “behold “; and what then? A cardinal principle for Israel: “the righteous shall be requited on the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner!” It has been but imperfectly seen, for rulers and subjects have alike fallen short. For a full witness it awaits His kingdom Who will come in power and glory, Whose right it is. He has spoken, and He will do it. And the time is short; the end of all things is at hand.