How does Job 20:18 connect with Proverbs 11:18 on righteous rewards? Setting the Two Verses Side by Side • Job 20:18: “He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.” • Proverbs 11:18: “The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.” Common Thread: The Principle of Divine Recompense • Both texts contrast fleeting, hollow gain with lasting, God-granted reward. • The focus is not merely on outward success but on whether one ultimately enjoys (or forfeits) the fruit of his actions. • Scripture consistently affirms that God settles accounts—both now and in eternity (cf. Galatians 6:7; Isaiah 3:10-11). Zooming in on Job 20:18 – What Happens to the Wicked • Zophar describes the unrepentant sinner: – Works hard, “trading” and “toiling.” – Accumulates profit yet must “return” it; nothing sticks. • Key idea: God can strip away enjoyment, making wealth a burden instead of a blessing (cf. Deuteronomy 28:39). • The verse showcases divine justice in negative form—loss, reversal, and emptiness. Zooming in on Proverbs 11:18 – What Happens to the Righteous • The proverb contrasts two sowers: – Wicked: “earns an empty wage” (a mirage that vanishes). – Righteous: “reaps a true reward”—literal, solid, and enduring. • “True reward” implies permanence and satisfaction, echoing Psalm 58:11 and Matthew 25:21. • God Himself stands behind the harvest; it is not luck but covenant faithfulness. Putting the Pieces Together • Job 20:18 exposes the counterfeit payoff of evil; Proverbs 11:18 highlights the authentic payoff of righteousness. • Together they outline the full equation: 1. Wickedness ⇒ temporary gain ⇒ inevitable loss. 2. Righteousness ⇒ often slow-growing seed ⇒ guaranteed harvest. • The link underscores that reward is measured not merely by possession but by God-granted ability to enjoy and retain it (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:26). Living It Out Today • Evaluate what you are “trading” for—temporary impressions or lasting treasure (Matthew 6:19-20). • Sow righteousness daily: – Practice integrity in business dealings. – Give generously (Proverbs 11:24-25). – Walk in obedience, trusting God to safeguard the yield. • Rest in the promise: “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor” (Isaiah 3:10). |
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