Proverbs 13:22

In all my years of reading Christian Spiritual meditations and Bible commentaries, I have never come across any reflection of Proverbs 13:22, “A good person leaves an inheritance to their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” This verse triggers other related scriptures at various levels. First, it touches on the impact of righteousness upon future generations. God impresses on us the importance of living an upright life so that our children and children’s children will walk in the light of truth. A prime example is the righteousness of Jehu that impacted God so much, that God promised his descendants the throne of Israel for four generations (2 Kings 10:30). Again in Psalm 103:17, the steadfast love of God is given to those who fear Him and his righteousness to “children’s children.” There seems to be a carry over effect on right living or a sense of God “paying it forward” to children and their children for followers who are obedient and faithful to the almighty Father. The second point that is evident in Proverbs 13:22 is the idea “of karma” or more precisely, the law of reaping and sowing that is clear in the teaching in Galatians 6:7. God tells us that we get in life what we put into it and nothing more or less. That being said, Proverbs 13:22 inspires the Christian to keep growing, building, investing for oneself and for others, especially to bless the community and one’s descendants and their descendants. This presupposes the importance of leaving a legacy in life. Thirdly, it also tells us that the sinner, if living unrepentant, he or she will eventually build up assets for nothing, and it will then whither away from their grasp and fall into the hands of hard working and righteous believers (Ecclesiastes 2:26). What is here today may be gone tomorrow; it is best we insure our life with a faith in Jesus Christ and commitment to living each moment glorifying Him. By living this way, we place all our work and assets into a safer portfolio that is destined to grow. In the end, Proverbs 13:22 is another angle of the famous scripture in 1 Chronicles 4:10 which inspired the great book and movement of the “Prayer of Jabez.”