Proverbs 28:20

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.”

The apostle Paul has told us that “the love of money is the root of all evil; and that many, while coveting after it, have pierced themselves through with many sorrows! 1 Timothy 6:10.” In truth, the effects of this principle on the people in whom it dwells, and on all connected with them, are beyond all conception bitter and injurious. On the other hand, an indifference to the love of money greatly elevates and ennobles those in whom it is found; and conduces, in a very eminent degree, to their happiness both in this world and the next.

This appears to be the precise import of our text, as it stands connected with the words which follow it. But we need not so limit its use. It contains a general truth, which will afford us much profitable instruction. Taking it in this more enlarged sense, I will endeavor to show,

I. Who are they that answer the description here given us.

Nehemiah, speaking of his brother Hanani, says, “He was a faithful man, and feared God above many;” and he assigns this as his reason for appointing him to superintend the repairs of the city of Jerusalem; since he might be fully depended on for a conscientious discharge of his high office, Nehemiah 7:2. From hence, then, we see who they are that are entitled to the character of “faithful men.”

1. The godly are faithful to their convictions in things relating to God.

There is in every man, under the Christian dispensation, a conviction that he is a sinner who stands in need of mercy; that God has revealed to us in his Gospel the way in which alone he will dispense mercy; and that, as responsible beings, who shall soon stand at the judgment-seat of Christ in order to be judged according to our works, it is our duty and our happiness to be seeking for saving mercy in God’s appointed way.

Now, if a man is faithful to his convictions respecting these things, we may justly call him a faithful man; but, if he neglects God, and pours contempt upon the Lord Jesus, and disregards his eternal interests, and labors in every possible way to silence the remonstrances of his own conscience—is he faithful? No indeed! He is a traitor to God and to his own soul. If he is truly upright before God, he will give to the concerns of his soul and of eternity the attention they demand.

2. The godly are faithful to their engagements in things relating to man.

Without supposing any express compact voluntarily entered into between man and man, there is of necessity a mutual obligation lying upon every man to perform the duties of his place and station. As husbands or wives, parents or children, masters or servants, magistrates or subjects—all of us have some line of conduct prescribed to us; and, as members of one great body, are bound to perform our proper office for the benefit of the whole. Every person feels this in relation to others; and would account himself very injuriously treated, if any should violate towards him the duties of their station; and, consequently, every one must owe to others the treatment which he himself claims at their hands.

Now, a faithful man considers this, and will labor to do unto others as he, in a change of circumstances, would think it right that they should do unto him. But if a man consults nothing but his own interests and inclinations, and makes his own will the only rule of his conduct, can he be called “faithful?” Is he not as much bound to observe the commandments of the second table as those of the first? His obligation to both the one and the other of them is unalterable; nor can either the one or the other in any wise be dispensed with. Piety towards God, and morality towards man, must go hand in hand. Neither of them can supersede the other; nor can either of them exist without the other; and he who is faithful in one, must of necessity be faithful in both.

For the encouragement of such characters, I will proceed to state,

II. What are the peculiar blessings reserved for the faithful.

Truly “the faithful man shall abound with blessings!”

I might here enumerate thousands of blessings, if time would admit of it; but I will specify only three:
the approbation of God;
the testimony of a good conscience;
and a blessed hope of immortality and glory!

But how shall I describe these blessings?

1. The approbation of God: “In God’s favor is life; and his loving-kindness is better than life itself, Psalm 30:5; Psalm 63:3.”

2. As for the testimony of our own conscience, and the witness of God’s Spirit with ours, that we are upright before him, man can have no greater joy on earth than that! 2 Corinthians 1:12, Romans 8:16.

3. And who can adequately declare the blessedness of a soul that apprehends God himself as his portion, and all the glory of Heaven as his inheritance!

But it is the peculiarity and exclusiveness of this portion which we are chiefly called to notice.

To the faithful man these blessings are given; but to him also are they limited; for they are peculiar to him, “and a stranger intermeddles not with his joy, Proverbs 14:10.” Let the man who is unfaithful to his convictions or to his engagements say what he knows of these blessings? If he speaks the truth before God, he has no experience of them whatever in his own soul. Indeed, it is impossible that he should have any sense of them as already imparted to him; since, if God is true, no one of them belongs to him, “he has no part or lot in anyone of them;” they belong to the faithful man—and to him alone!

Application:

1. What is the proper scope and tendency of the Gospel.

It is surely intended to effect a change, yes, an exceeding great change, both in the characters and states of men.

But what does it effect in their character? Does it make them hypocrites? No; but faithful both to God and man.

And what does it effect in their states? Does it deprive them of comforts, and make them melancholy? No; but it makes them to abound with blessings, both in time and in eternity.

O that you could be prevailed upon to view the Gospel in its true light, and to embrace it with your whole hearts!

2. What bitter self-condemnation awaits the impenitent and unbelieving man.

You have now the blessings of time and sense. But what are they, in comparison with those that await the faithful man? Even here your portion is far inferior to his; but what will they be in the eternal world? Truly, you will all find, before long, that to gain the whole world with the loss of your own souls is a sad exchange! May God make you wise in time, that you may not have to deplore your folly to all eternity!

Charles Simeon