Proverbs 11:4
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Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
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God's wrath against sinners may bring an early death in this world, and it will surely bring an eternal death in the next world. And no amount of money can delay or stop either death. But righteousness pleases God and delivers men from death now and later (10:2; 12:28). The wisdom is obvious - neglect or reject righteousness to your own peril!
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, blasphemed Jehovah: his sons killed him while at Mass (II Kgs 19:37). Belshazzar was killed the same night he celebrated his riches with the lords of Babylon (Dan 5:1-30). A rich man faired sumptuously while Lazarus begged, but he lifted up his eyes in hell (Luke 16:19-23). Ananias and Sapphira were landowners; they had money; but they fell down dead in the church at Jerusalem after lying (Acts 5:1-11).
Solomon's observations of death led him to write, "Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?" (Eccl 7:17.) And he truly ridiculed men who gathered up wealth, died, and then left it all to a foolish heir (Eccl 2:18-21). He knew there was no discharge in the war with death, regardless of your wealth (Eccl 8:8).
David wrote the best condemnation of trusting in riches (Ps 49:1-20). He emphasized that money nor success could deliver from death; and he ridiculed men who pursued wealth after witnessing rich men take nothing with them at death. He summarized by saying, "Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish" (Ps 49:20).
But righteousness, doing those things that please God, defers God's wrath and saves men from death now and later. Ezekiel preached a detailed message of how righteousness could save a man from a threatened death (Ezek 18:1-32). And Amos told Israel plainly how they could turn to the LORD and live, and not die under judgment (Amos 5:4-15).
God put Noah in the ark for his righteousness (Gen 7:1). Abigail knew David was bound up in the bundle of life (I Sam 25:29). God preserved Job from Satan for his fear of God and hatred of evil (Job 1:1). Hezekiah had 15 years added to his life for a perfect heart (Is 38:1-8). And Manasseh reigned longer than any king for repenting (II Chr 33:13).
Men invest fortunes in vitamins, doctors, and alternative therapies to defer death; the more money they have, the more exotic the efforts to stay alive! But the cure is righteousness! Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt 7:21). Jesus Christ at the final judgment will ignore your net worth or highest income.
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