“Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.” — Proverbs 10:2
“Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” — Zephaniah 1:18
These verses declare a sobering truth: what men trust in for security cannot save them in the day of judgment. Riches, possessions, and earthly gain may promise safety, but they have no power to deliver a soul. Only righteousness — God’s righteousness — can save.
Men labor, store, and build as though wealth is their refuge, yet God reminds us that in the day of wrath, silver and gold are powerless. What matters is not what a man has, but whether he is right with God.
Illustration #1 — Achan (Joshua 7)
Consider Achan in Joshua 7. He took the wedge of gold and Babylonish garment, hiding them in his tent. What he trusted in secretly brought destruction openly. His treasures could not deliver him from judgment — they exposed him to it. Truly, “treasures of wickedness profit nothing.”
Illustration #2 — The Rich Fool (Luke 12:16–21)
The rich fool laid up great goods and said, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years.” Yet God said, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” His wealth could not save him when eternity came calling. He was rich in this world, but poor toward God.
There is only one righteousness that delivers from death — the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” — Romans 5:9
Do not trust in what you can hold — trust in the One who holds your eternity. Lay up treasure in heaven, not confidence in earth. Riches may comfort for a moment, but only righteousness delivers forever.