Proverbs 11:31

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight contrasting the righteous and the wicked:

Proverbs 11:31 (NASBStr)

If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth,

How much more the wicked and the sinner!

Proverbs 11:31 (ESV)

If the righteous is repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Throughout Proverbs we see the righteous and the wicked contrasted; as we do the fool and the wise one. In both cases we see them both dually rewarded for the journey they decided to take in life.  Both have their focus on The Lord but the righteous fear Him and the wicked ignore Him.   In the above proverb we see that the righteous will be rewarded "in the earth."   It also states that the wicked and the sinner will be rewarded and implies, "in the earth."   God knows the difference between the two.  He also knows the reward the two should receive.   We work all of our lives for rewards.   We love to receive them.   In fact, if we don't receive them we are quite frustrated and even angry.   The Apostle Paul also mentions our wages.  He tells us in Romans 3:23 that the "wages" of sin is death.   So, we deserve death.  Everyone one of us.   Yet, God gives us righteousness as a gift and that is a reward we can rejoice in and sing praises over.    God is the giver of life and the rewarder of death.   He will bless His children with life and those who reject Him with death.