No Generic, Please

(Proverbs 10:16 KJV)  The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

There don’t seem to be any verbs in the Hebrew of this verse.  The NASB has “is” which is usually an assumed word in the language, not common like in English.  The KJV adds “tendeth” but has it in italics so you know it is not in the original text.  This is a verse that needs to be understood in the context of the full scripture.

The heresy that can come from this, and is common in popular theology, is a version of the prosperity gospel.  The real perversion comes in those people who believe that every painful experience in our life is a result of sin or lack of faith.  The false teaching is that if we are right with God all will be sunshine and unicorns.  If you read anything but carefully edited verses you realize that there are many verses that talk about trials and persecution.  The Bible has a balance and believers need to live in that balance.

What is never a matter of balance is the demand for a “righteous” (6662) life.  That is a no compromise standard.  Here it is tied to “life” (2425b).  The full witness of scripture says we can live righteous lives.  The full witness points out that it is only through grace and the work of the Holy Spirit, but it is an expected minimum, not an impossible dream.

So?  Don’t settle for generic when you can have the real thing.  It might not make any difference in your aspirin but it certainly does in your walk of faith.