Pro 21:21 | KingComments | STEP | “The wise” ( ) lives with an eye to the future, while also living in the present. There is in his home “a precious treasure and oil” of which he uses every day, while knowing that what he has will also be enough in future times of want. This is because he looks beyond and especially higher than these resources. He sees that he receives them from God’s hand. The wise may be a poor person living in a hut. The precious treasure is not so much a heap of gold or silver, but may be a bit of bread, trusting God to give him each day the amount of bread he needs that day ( ). The oil does not refer to a large supply of oil that he can sell later, but a small amount that he trusts is enough for what he needs that day and will need later. In short, the wise trusts in God. The widow in Zarephath was such a wise person ( ). She had a little bit of flour and a little bit of oil in her house, but also the man of God. He made sure the flour and oil did not run out because the woman believed him. Thus, we have a precious treasure and oil in our home when we give everything in our home to the Lord Jesus. Then He will see to it that we lack nothing. The fool does not think about the future. He also has a precious treasure and oil, but no faith in God. Therefore, he swallows up everything he has. The wise one lives here and now, but with his eye on the future; the fool lives only for here and now. The fool lets money slip between his fingers like sand. He does not contemplate his possession in the light of the future and therefore he squanders it. His motto is ‘he who lives then, cares then’, but he does not consider that ‘then’ he will meet God and have to answer Him for what he has done with his possessions. He who “pursues” something ( ) is convinced of its value and that it is worthwhile to dedicate oneself entirely to it. The wise person is convinced of the value of “righteousness and loyalty”. Righteousness is giving to God what He is entitled to and to people what they are entitled to. It is acting in accordance with justice. “Loyalty” indicates a mind of goodness. They go together in God in a perfectly balanced wise. They should also go together in the righteous. Whoever pursues these two characteristics will find and experience true “life” both now and in eternity. True life is living in fellowship with God, as Christ knew when He was on earth. In addition, he also finds “righteousness”. He knows that he has been fully accepted by God. This is not about obtaining a position before God, for that cannot be earned. It is about the awareness of the blessing of being able to be in God’s presence. The basis of this is the work of Christ. Finally, he also finds “honor”. God honors him for his efforts (cf. ). This “pursuit” no one can do in his own strength. It can only happen through the Holy Spirit Who in the new life works this pursuit. Timothy is also told to pursue righteousness and a number of other characteristics. If he does so, he will grasp the true, eternal life ( ). Timothy was a believer, but the point is that the new life is also lived by him. That is also what Solomon means here.

‏ Proverbs 21:21

The Wise Is Saving and Lives

“The wise” (Pro 21:20) lives with an eye to the future, while also living in the present. There is in his home “a precious treasure and oil” of which he uses every day, while knowing that what he has will also be enough in future times of want. This is because he looks beyond and especially higher than these resources. He sees that he receives them from God’s hand.

The wise may be a poor person living in a hut. The precious treasure is not so much a heap of gold or silver, but may be a bit of bread, trusting God to give him each day the amount of bread he needs that day (Mt 6:11). The oil does not refer to a large supply of oil that he can sell later, but a small amount that he trusts is enough for what he needs that day and will need later. In short, the wise trusts in God.

The widow in Zarephath was such a wise person (1Kgs 17:11-15). She had a little bit of flour and a little bit of oil in her house, but also the man of God. He made sure the flour and oil did not run out because the woman believed him. Thus, we have a precious treasure and oil in our home when we give everything in our home to the Lord Jesus. Then He will see to it that we lack nothing.

The fool does not think about the future. He also has a precious treasure and oil, but no faith in God. Therefore, he swallows up everything he has. The wise one lives here and now, but with his eye on the future; the fool lives only for here and now. The fool lets money slip between his fingers like sand. He does not contemplate his possession in the light of the future and therefore he squanders it. His motto is ‘he who lives then, cares then’, but he does not consider that ‘then’ he will meet God and have to answer Him for what he has done with his possessions.

He who “pursues” something (Pro 21:21) is convinced of its value and that it is worthwhile to dedicate oneself entirely to it. The wise person is convinced of the value of “righteousness and loyalty”. Righteousness is giving to God what He is entitled to and to people what they are entitled to. It is acting in accordance with justice. “Loyalty” indicates a mind of goodness. They go together in God in a perfectly balanced wise. They should also go together in the righteous.

Whoever pursues these two characteristics will find and experience true “life” both now and in eternity. True life is living in fellowship with God, as Christ knew when He was on earth. In addition, he also finds “righteousness”. He knows that he has been fully accepted by God. This is not about obtaining a position before God, for that cannot be earned. It is about the awareness of the blessing of being able to be in God’s presence. The basis of this is the work of Christ. Finally, he also finds “honor”. God honors him for his efforts (cf. Jn 12:26).

This “pursuit” no one can do in his own strength. It can only happen through the Holy Spirit Who in the new life works this pursuit. Timothy is also told to pursue righteousness and a number of other characteristics. If he does so, he will grasp the true, eternal life (1Tim 6:11-12). Timothy was a believer, but the point is that the new life is also lived by him. That is also what Solomon means here.