The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

²³ The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

²⁴ There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

²⁵ The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

²⁶ He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

²⁷ He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

²⁸ He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Greed’s Reward

We are ensnared by our own desires. If we have a converted righteous heart, we desire what is good and pleasing to God. If we have a heart that has not been handed over to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction, we expect the worse and most likely should (v.23).

When you seek to do good favor comes upon you (v.27). However, if you seek to do wrong you shall have wrong done to you many times over (v.27).

When you look at the meaning of the word “expectation” in the Hebrew language, you find that the wicked are actually bond to wrath by cords that will drag them there, as they give themselves to wicked deeds (v.23). They know wrath is coming. Sadly, you will see it is what they hope for, live for, and long for, which is horribly sad, and to me, very hard to believe.

Here is the definition from the Hebrew for the word “expectation” in this verse:

8615. תִּקְוָה tiqvâh, tik-vaw’; from 6960; lit. a cord (as an attachment [comp. 6961]); fig. expectancy:— expectation ([-ted]), hope, live, thing that I long for.

6960. קָוָה qâvâh, kaw-vaw’; a prim. root; to bind together (perh. by twisting), i.e. collect; (fig.) to expect:— gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).

The more we hold on to, the less we will have (v.24). Greed will cause loss in life. Greed is tricky because it might appear to be working for a season and then boom, it all blows up and what a person had is gone, usually all gone. We have seen this play out in the media time and time again by those who had great wealth coupled with great greed. If a person is trusting in their money to protect them, they are going to one day find themselves without….(v.28) for ultimately money will fail you, and you will fall in some manner (this word “fall” in v.28 has many applications.)

On the other hand, we have also seen those who acquire great wealth, are extremely generous, and tend to hold on to their wealth. That is because those people who give liberally, who share and are generous, are rewarded by God (v.25). In the Hebrew language the word “liberal” in verse twenty-five in part means “by implication prosperity” – give and it shall be given to you (Luke 6:28).

People hate greedy people. They tend to be a source of much distain (v.26). Yet, the person who is generous is a person who is looked upon favorably (v.26). Scripture makes it clear in verse twenty-six, and in many different areas, that generous giving people are a blessed people.

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Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.