What parallels exist between Jeremiah 17:11 and Proverbs 13:11 regarding wealth? The Verses Side-by-Side • Jeremiah 17:11: “Like a partridge hatching eggs it did not lay is he who makes a fortune unjustly. In the middle of his days his riches will desert him, and in the end he will be the fool.” • Proverbs 13:11: “Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will increase.” Common Ground • Both condemn wealth gathered through deceit or shortcuts. • Both forecast the same future for ill-gotten gain—loss and shame. • Both assume God’s active oversight: judgment is inevitable even if the world applauds the fraud for a season. • Both implicitly commend honest diligence—the slow, legitimate path to increase. Images That Preach Jeremiah’s partridge: • A bird sitting on eggs that are not its own looks productive but is living a lie. • The moment of supposed success is temporary; the chicks leave, and the bird stands exposed—just like the unjust rich person when the wealth evaporates. Proverbs’ dwindling pile: • “Dishonest wealth will dwindle” pictures a leaking purse or a shrinking stack of coins. • By contrast, “earned through hard work” describes steady, faithful labor God is pleased to bless. Shared Warning in Plain Terms • Quick cash collected without integrity is cursed from the start. • God ensures the collapse comes “in the middle of his days” (Jeremiah 17:11), often when the person least expects it. • The downfall is not only financial but personal—“in the end he will be the fool,” disgraced and empty-handed. Complementary Scriptures • Proverbs 10:2—“Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit.” • Proverbs 20:17—“Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.” • Luke 12:15–21—the rich fool who hoarded and lost his soul overnight. • 1 Timothy 6:9–10—those eager for money “pierce themselves with many sorrows.” Practical Takeaways • Perform regular heart checks: “Is my gain honest, or am I just sitting on someone else’s eggs?” • Choose slow growth: budgeting, saving, investing, and working diligently are God-approved avenues for increase. • Remember the finish line: riches that survive are those laid up “where moth and rust do not destroy” (Matthew 6:19–20). • Measure success by faithfulness, not flashes of prosperity. Summary Jeremiah 17:11 and Proverbs 13:11 march in step: dishonest wealth is a mirage that vanishes, while honest labor invites God’s enduring blessing. |
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