For God giveth to a man that is good in His sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner He giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that He may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 2:26
A rich man living in a fertile valley had a faithful old Christian servant and was always looking to the old saint for advice and guidance. One afternoon, the rich man seized an opportunity during his busy schedule to catch a short nap. As he slept, he had a vivid dream in which an angel announced to him that the richest man in the valley was going to die that night. Awaking from his nap, the rich man was deeply disturbed, and went to find the old servant. The old man dismissed the dream as just a dream, and told his employer there was nothing to worry about. But the rich man could not relax; the dream seemed to be so real. He called his doctor to perform a checkup, and was careful to avoid all dangerous places for the rest of the day. Still uneasy, he went to bed later than usual, and was unable to sleep. Around midnight, a knock rang out on his door. It was a neighbour, informing him that his old Christian servant had died in his sleep. The angel’s warning had proven true, after all.
Our text is a reminder that God blesses those who fear Him, and condemns those who reject or ignore Him. It is a great warning for those who remain in their sins, but a great comfort for those of us who are saved. And yet, I believe there are degrees of blessing that God gives to those who are His own, depending on the degree of faithfulness and service. The riches of wisdom, knowledge, and joy are not only greater than all the wealth of earth but they are also greater than we could ever deserve. And yet, these are great riches that God offers to those who are good in His sight.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Our salvation brings us into such a fear, and our walk with our Lord deepens this reverence and respect for our Father. As for knowledge, the world has it aplenty, but they have it all mixed up. God gives to His children knowledge of Himself and knowledge of His Word, knowledge that can never be false or worthless. And in a world of sorrow, pain, and disappointment, God gives to us the assurance of His eternal blessings, and we can be filled with joy and peace.
Only by the goodness of our Saviour can we appear good before God. Only by our appreciation of that goodness can we receive the wisdom, knowledge, and joy that He offers. – Jim MacIntosh