Commentary - Proverbs 15:6

Bird's-eye view

This proverb, like so many others, draws a sharp, clean line between two ways of life: the way of righteousness and the way of wickedness. It is a fundamental contrast that runs through all of Scripture. Solomon here applies this great antithesis to the realm of economics and household management. He is not simply making an observation about financial outcomes, as a modern economist might. Rather, he is revealing a deep, covenantal truth about the nature of reality. The universe is morally structured, and because it is, there is a profound difference between the assets of a godly man and the assets of a scoundrel, even if their balance sheets look identical on paper. The righteous man's house is a storehouse of true, blessed substance, while the wicked man's income is shot through with a kind of metaphysical rot. The one is treasure; the other is trouble.

The verse forces us to ask what constitutes "treasure." For the righteous man, it is far more than mere coin. It is the blessing of God on his labor, the peace in his home, the joy in his relationships, and the quiet confidence that comes from walking in integrity. The wicked man may have revenue, perhaps even great revenue, but it comes with an entourage of trouble. His wealth is vexed. It is cursed. It brings with it strife, anxiety, insecurity, and ultimately, judgment. This is not a promise that every righteous man will be a millionaire, but it is an absolute guarantee that the way of righteousness leads to a kind of wealth that money cannot buy and that the way of wickedness, no matter how profitable it may seem, is a fool's bargain.

Outline

Context In Proverbs

Proverbs 15 is a chapter full of these sharp contrasts. A soft answer versus a harsh word (v. 1), the tongue of the wise versus the mouth of fools (v. 2), the Lord's eyes on the evil and the good (v. 3), and so on. Our verse, verse 6, fits squarely within this pattern. It takes the general principle of the great antithesis between wisdom and folly, righteousness and wickedness, and applies it to the specific area of household wealth. This theme is common throughout the book. "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death" (Prov 10:2). "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it" (Prov 10:22). "Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice" (Prov 16:8). Solomon is constantly teaching his son that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all true knowledge, and that includes financial knowledge. A man who does not understand the moral nature of money does not understand money at all, no matter how much of it he accumulates.

Key Issues

The Moral Ledger

Modern man, and particularly the modern secular conservative, likes to think of economics as a morally neutral science, a matter of inputs and outputs, supply and demand. But Scripture knows nothing of this. The universe was made by a personal, righteous God, and therefore every aspect of it, including the marketplace, is shot through with moral significance. Every transaction is either righteous or unrighteous. Every dollar is either blessed or cursed.

Proverbs 15:6 is a succinct summary of this biblical worldview. It sets up two households as test cases. One is run by a righteous man, a man who fears God and walks in His ways. The other is run by a wicked man, one who disregards God's law and lives for himself. The proverb then audits their finances, not with a calculator, but with divine wisdom. It looks past the numbers on the page and examines the nature of the assets. What it finds is that the assets are not morally equivalent. The righteous man has "treasure," while the wicked man's income is simply "trouble." This is because God is the ultimate accountant, and His ledger is the one that matters. He is not fooled by appearances. He sees the rot of injustice in the wicked man's revenue stream, and He sees the quiet integrity that constitutes the righteous man's true wealth.

Verse by Verse Commentary

6a The house of the righteous has much treasure...

The first clause establishes the blessing that rests upon the household of the just man. The word for "house" here refers to more than just the physical building; it means the entire household, the family, the estate. And in this household, there is much treasure. Now, we must be careful not to read this in a flat-footed, materialistic way. Proverbs are not mathematical formulas. This is not a guarantee that every Christian will have a mansion and a stock portfolio. We know from other Scriptures, and from life, that many righteous saints are poor in this world's goods. So what is this "treasure?"

The treasure is, first and foremost, the blessing of God. "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it" (Prov 10:22). The treasure of the righteous is substance that has no sorrow attached. It is wealth that you can actually enjoy. It is a pantry full of food that is eaten in peace, not in strife. It is a home filled with love and laughter. It is a good name in the community. It is a clear conscience before God and man. It is the quiet confidence that comes from knowing you have dealt honestly in all your affairs. This is true substance. And yes, very often, this kind of righteous living does lead to material prosperity, because honesty, diligence, and wisdom are economically potent virtues. But the material prosperity is a byproduct of the true treasure, which is the favor of God.

6b But in the income of the wicked there is trouble.

The contrast could not be more stark. The wicked man also has an income, or "revenue." In fact, his revenue might be much larger than the righteous man's. He might be the one with the bigger house, the faster car, the more impressive portfolio. He is the one who cuts corners, cheats on his taxes, oppresses his workers, and deals dishonestly. And from a worldly perspective, it seems to be working out for him. He is getting ahead.

But God's audit reveals a different story. In his revenue, there is trouble. The Hebrew word here is related to the idea of being stirred up, agitated, or afflicted. His money is vexed. It is cursed. Every dollar he brings in through wickedness brings a little bit of hell with it. It brings strife into his home. It brings anxiety into his heart. It brings the fear of being found out. It brings the envy of his peers and the resentment of those he has cheated. His wealth is a hornet's nest. He may think he possesses his riches, but in reality, they possess him. They are a source of constant agitation. And ultimately, this trouble will culminate in the final judgment of God. The treasures of wickedness profit nothing in the day of wrath (Prov 10:2). The trouble that was always latent in his income will finally and fully manifest itself.

Application

This proverb forces a fundamental choice upon us. What kind of wealth are we pursuing? Are we seeking the world's definition of success, which is a large pile of revenue, no questions asked? Or are we seeking the "much treasure" that is found only in the house of the righteous? We live in a culture that is almost entirely dedicated to the wicked man's definition of wealth. Get it fast, get it now, and don't worry too much about the fine print. This proverb calls us to be radically counter-cultural.

It tells the young man starting his career that integrity is a greater asset than a fat starting salary. It tells the businessman that it is better to lose a deal than to make it dishonestly. It tells the housewife that a peaceful home with simple means is a greater treasure than a mansion full of strife. It reminds us all that we are stewards, not owners, and that one day we will give an account for how we handled God's resources. The central question is not "how much did you make?" but rather "how did you make it?"

The ultimate application, as always, is found in the gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ was the truly righteous man, yet He had no house, no treasure, no place to lay His head. He became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich (2 Cor 8:9). He took all the "trouble" that was in our wicked revenue upon Himself at the cross. He absorbed the divine curse that our sin deserved. And in exchange, He offers us the true treasure: the righteousness of God, which is by faith. When we are found in Him, our house, whether it be a cottage or a castle, becomes a house of the righteous. And in that house, because He is there, there is always much treasure.