When Wealth is Worthless: Choosing Righteousness That Delivers from Death
- Frank Wible
- Sep 11
- 3 min read
David had spent his whole life chasing wealth. From the time he was young, he equated success with money. He worked endless hours, built businesses, and invested wisely. By his early forties, he had more money than he ever imagined, but he also carried a restlessness that money could not fix.
He told himself the grind was worth it. He believed his wealth would buy security, respect, and even happiness. Yet late at night, when the house was silent, a question gnawed at him: “What if all this means nothing in the end?”
The turning point came when David’s father passed away suddenly. His father had lived modestly but faithfully. At the funeral, people lined up to tell stories of his kindness, honesty, and generosity. No one mentioned his father’s bank account. Everyone spoke about his righteousness.
That contrast pierced David. His father left behind no financial empire, but his life had left a legacy of faith. David realized in that moment that his father had something money could never buy — peace with God and a reputation of godliness.
After the funeral, David sat alone in his study, staring at the piles of financial statements. The verse from Proverbs echoed in his heart: “Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” For the first time, he saw his empire as fragile.
That night, he prayed a prayer he had never prayed before. “God, I have chased everything but You. Show me how to live righteously, not just richly.” His words broke years of pride. Tears filled his eyes as he surrendered the throne of his heart.
David began small. He stopped skipping church for business meetings. He spent time in prayer and Scripture before checking his emails. Slowly, his decisions began to shift from “What makes the most money?” to “What honors God most?”
His business partners noticed. Some mocked him, saying he was becoming soft. Others respected his integrity, even when it cost profits. David realized righteousness was not about appearances but about living in obedience to God, even when no one else understood.
Then came the ultimate test. One of his largest deals involved dishonest practices hidden in the fine print. Signing it would guarantee millions. But walking away would mean losing investors. David wrestled in prayer and returned to Proverbs 11:4. He chose righteousness over wealth.
The backlash was fierce. Investors pulled out, employees quit, and people called him a fool. For months, his finances took a hit. Yet he felt a strange freedom. He could lay his head down at night without guilt. He knew he had chosen rightly before God.
As time passed, God opened new doors. Clients who valued integrity sought him out. His reputation shifted from being a wealthy man to being a man of honor. He realized that his father’s legacy was becoming his own.
The trials did not vanish, but David found peace in knowing his life was no longer measured in dollars but in obedience. He discovered that the true measure of a man was not in his bank account but in his faithfulness to God.
Looking back, David admitted that wealth had once enslaved him. It gave him pride but no purpose, comfort but no peace. In choosing righteousness, he gained what money could never buy — freedom, peace, and eternal security in Christ.
His testimony became a message to other men. He would look them in the eye and say, “Brothers, wealth is worthless when you stand before God. What matters is righteousness. What matters is Jesus.”
David’s story reminds us all: money may buy comfort for a moment, but only righteousness delivers from death. And that righteousness is not earned by works or wealth, but received by faith in Jesus Christ.
What matters most when life is tested?
Wealth and possessions
Power and influence
Righteousness and faith
Leaving a Godly legacy
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