Proverbs 11: 28 Trust

Today’s verse speaks of trust. Some people trust in their own abilities to accrue riches, while others trust in God and His blessings because they are living a righteous life following His ways.

Proverbs 11: 28 (NKJV)
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

Here are the definitions, from the Online Dictionary, of our principle words:

trust: 1. To have or place confidence in; depend on. 2. To expect with assurance; assume

riches: wealth; an abundance of money, valuable possessions, or property

fall: 1. A reduction in value, amount, or degree. 2. A marked, often sudden, decline in status, rank, or importance:

flourish: 1. To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive: 2. To do or fare well; prosper: 3. To be in a period of highest productivity, excellence, or influence

foliage: 1. Plant leaves, especially tree leaves, considered as a group.

Using these definitions we see that a person who places their confidence in, or depends upon, his wealth, money, or material possessions will end up with a reduction in the value of his worth, and be marked with a decline in status, rank, or importance…

In contrast, those that follow God and His Messiah will grow well. They will thrive because of His blessings. In 1 Kings 2:3 it says: “And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn…” This verse compares these blessings as flourishing the way a vine does when it is getting plenty of sun, rain and nutrients and grows luxuriant leaves.

Proverbs 11: 25 Generosity

Today’s verse continues with the theme of our last verse. It speaks of the blessings that come to those who are generous toward others.

Proverbs 11: 25 (NKJV)

25 The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

First, let’s look at the definitions of the main words in this verse:

generous: 1. willing and liberal in giving away one's money, time, etc.; munificent 2. free from pettiness in character and mind 3. full or plentiful

rich: 1. Possessing great material wealth: 2. Having great worth or value 3. Magnificent; sumptuous 4. a. Having an abundant supply b. Abounding, especially in natural resources 5. Meaningful and significant 6. Very productive and therefore financially profitable

water: Basic life giving fluid

We can see that those that are willing and liberal in giving of their time, money, etc. and are free from pettiness in their inner beings will be blessed, or “made” to be rich. This could be in worth or value in God’s, and other men’s sight, as well as, in material wealth. HE will bless with abundant supplies and help them to be productive (maybe with an idea or creative thought), which can also lead to financial abundance.

This verse goes on to say that those that those that gives of the basic fluid of life, will receive back the same life from God. Jesus is called “the living water” or the “water of life,” and this is shown in the story of the “Woman at the Well” found in John 4: 7 – 14:

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Proverbs 11: 4 Riches vs Righteousness

The verse we are studying today, warns us not to put our trust in riches, but in being right with God. We will use verses from the Bible with God’s definitions of the major ideas from today’s verse.

Proverbs 11: 4 (NKJV)

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.


God is a God of Love, and as such, He must judge evil. There is coming, a “Day of Wrath,” when God WILL pour out His judgment on those that refuse to accept Him as their Lord and Jesus as their savior! He gave up His son to save us and there is nothing further He can do. We don’t have to face this… It is our choice. Here is what God has to say about the “Day of Wrath” in Isaiah 13:9-13 (NKJV)


9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes,
Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger,
To lay the land desolate;
And He will destroy its sinners from it.

10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations

Will not give their light;

The sun will be darkened in its going forth,

And the moon will not cause its light to shine.

11 “ I will punish the world for its evil,

And the wicked for their iniquity;

I will halt the arrogance of the proud,

And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

12 I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold,

A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir.

13 Therefore I will shake the heavens,

And the earth will move out of her place,
In the wrath of the LORD of hosts

And in the day of His fierce anger.

Psalms 49: 16-20 (NIV) warns us not to be overawed with “riches,” because riches, in themselves, will not bring life.

16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich,

when the splendor of his house increases;
17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies,

his splendor will not descend with him.
18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed—

and men praise you when you prosper-

19 he will join the generation of his fathers,
who will never see the light of life .
20 A man who has riches without understanding

is like the beasts that perish.

NOTE: It is the man that has "riches WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING" that will perish. It isn't the riches that bring about condemnation, it is putting them before God that does.

Psalms 15: 1 – 5 gives us a definition from the Bible, of the person that God feels is “righteous,” and who will end up in Heaven…

1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless

and who does what is righteous,

who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,

who does his neighbor no wrong

and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man

but honors those who fear the LORD,

who keeps his oath

even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury

and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things

will never be shaken.

Now, let's read, again our verse from today: Proverbs 11: 4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. After reading God’s definitions, I found this verse to be much more meaningful and significant in it’s meaning for me… I hope that you did too!