Proverbs 12:3

Proverbs 12:3 "A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved."

People turn to wickedness for all kinds of reasons.  Sometimes, people turn to wickedness because they’re bored, which is why it has been said that idle hands are the devil’s workshop.  Other times, people turn to wickedness because they want revenge.  Most of the time, people turn to wickedness because it looks fun.  Sometimes, people turn to wickedness simply because they’re impatient.  Later in this blessed book of proverbs, Solomon would write, “he that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye.”  Sometimes, wickedness is chosen because it is seen as a short cut to success.  Theft and even an addiction to gambling are quick but wicked ways to obtain wealth.  Violence, murder and slander are quick but wicked ways to obtain justice.  Fornication and adultery are quick but wicked ways to obtain pleasure.  Cruelty, threatening and deception are quick but wicked ways to obtain power. 

For many, wickedness is chosen as a means to get something much bigger and in their eyes, much more permanent.  Most of the time, people understand that there is a risk in doing evil but they foolishly underestimate that risk when considering the reward.  In the bulk of suburban and rural murders in our country, either money or adultery is usually the reason behind the tragic loss of life.  When $50,000, $100,000 or $1,000,000 is the reward through a life insurance benefit, murderers foolishly underrate the risk of getting caught.  When romance without distraction or contention is the reward, murderers foolishly underrate the risk of getting caught.  In both cases, wickedness is chosen as the means to get quickly what they want.  Sadly for them but truthfully according the Scriptures, these criminals are not established as they expected to be.  They think a bullet will get them rich when it only makes them dirt poor.  They think a little poison will give them a soul mate when it only gets them a cell mate.

The Bible is unapologetic in regards to wicked shortcuts.  No one will be established by wickedness.  One may get what they want in the short-term but if gotten by wickedness, it will not last.  The only way to have long-lasting success in life is by righteous means.  Wealth gotten by hard work and honest business dealings is wealth that stands the test of time.  Romance obtained by purity and gentleness is romance that usually lasts a lifetime.  Power that is earned by integrity and respect is power that is maintained.

Men and women aren’t established by wicked ways in our world because God has set up a law to prevent that in our world.  It is called The Law of Sowing & Reaping, as stated in Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  Murderers rarely get established because they’re always looking over their shoulder for another murderer or for the Minister of God who bears the sword (Romans 13).  Thieves rarely settle down because they’re usually moving their spoils around lest they themselves become a victim of theft.  Cheaters usually gets cheated.  Adulterers usually become the victim of adultery.  Violent men usually become the victim of violence.  Liars are usually lied about.  Gossipers are typically gossiped about.  What goes around, comes around!  

Mankind continues to choose wickedness as a means to a more glorious end in our world because we see apparent success by those suggesting wicked ways.  To many, it seems like the much easier and quicker way to get what they want.  But we must always rely on the word of God rather than on the word of man.  There is no long-term success in wicked ways.  If you’re stealing from your employer or from your government, your finances will not be established.  If you’re lying to keep your position or slandering to maintain your popularity, your reputation will not be secure.  Eventually, you will be exposed.  Eventually, you will be caught and when you are caught, your success will be gone.  We see this over and over in the headlines as apparently successful people are exposed and brought to their knees day in and day out.
 
I was reminded of this simple truth that is repeated throughout the Bible when recently cleaning my gutters out.  There are a number of silver maple trees on my property and every spring, thousands of helicopter seeds descend in military fashion to the ground where they hope to start a new and prosperous life.  Many of these life-giving marvels take a shortcut to success by landing in the gutters of my garage and house.  If, like this year, I leave them in the gutters long enough, they will begin to form life in those well-watered flower boxes and like this year, will proudly boast of their success out of the reach of my lawn mower or weed-killer.  There in the GUTTERS, they grow faster than any other seeds on the ground.  There in the GUTTERS, they grow easier than any other seeds on the ground.  They didn’t have to fall as far as the rest of the seeds and they didn’t have to work as hard as the rest of the seeds on the ground.  To some maple tree seeds, the GUTTER was a shortcut to success but not a path to long-term prosperity.  Those little green saplings experienced success for only a short time as their roots had nothing substantial to settle into.  Within weeks, they were easily scooped out of the gutters by the homeowner where they met their extraordinary demise.  To succeed in my yard, maple helicopter seeds have to do it the right way by descending all the way to the ground and ultimately, extending their roots deep into the soil where they can be established.

This little annual phenomenon in my yard is a vivid reminder of what happens in our world.  People take shortcuts to success by getting in the GUTTER of WICKEDNESS where they experience quicker success than the rest of the world.  Eventually however, because they didn’t pursue prosperity through righteousness, they feel the hand of a Holy God scoop them out of the GUTTER where they meet their societal and spiritual demise.  If you want to weather the financial, relational and spiritual storms of life, you need to pursue success with deep roots in righteousness.  This takes more time and harder work than being in the gutter of life but it lasts longer ultimately because it attracts the blessing of God.  Be not deceived, wickedness never pays off.