In the ancient land of Israel, where the sun rose over the hills of Judah and set beyond the plains of Sharon, there lived two men whose lives stood in stark contrast to one another. Their stories were woven into the fabric of the community, serving as living parables of the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. One man was named Eliab, and the other was called Reuben. Their lives were a testament to the truths declared in Proverbs 10, where the ways of the righteous and the wicked are laid bare.
Eliab was a man of diligence and integrity. From his youth, he had been taught the ways of the Lord by his father, a shepherd who often recited the proverbs of Solomon to his children. Eliab grew up understanding that “the blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). He worked tirelessly in his fields, sowing seeds in the spring and reaping a bountiful harvest in the autumn. His hands were calloused from labor, but his heart was full of gratitude. He tithed faithfully, giving the firstfruits of his crops to the Lord, and shared his abundance with the poor and the widows in his village. His name became synonymous with generosity, and his household was a place of peace and joy.
Reuben, on the other hand, was a man of cunning and deceit. He had grown up in the same village as Eliab, but his heart had been hardened by envy and greed. He despised the toil of honest work and sought to gain wealth through dishonest means. He would often linger in the marketplace, looking for opportunities to swindle the unsuspecting. His lips were quick to speak lies, and his heart was far from the Lord. He mocked the ways of the righteous, saying, “Why should I labor under the sun when I can gain much with little effort?” But his gains were fleeting, and his soul was restless.
One year, a severe drought struck the land. The rains did not come, and the streams dried up. The fields that once yielded abundance now lay barren under the scorching sun. The people of the village grew anxious, and many began to hoard what little they had. But Eliab, trusting in the Lord, continued to share his stored grain with those in need. He remembered the words of Proverbs: “The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land” (Proverbs 10:30). He prayed for rain and worked diligently to dig wells, believing that the Lord would provide.
Reuben, however, saw the drought as an opportunity. He began to sell his stored grain at exorbitant prices, exploiting the desperation of his neighbors. His barns were full, but his heart was empty. He laughed at Eliab’s generosity, saying, “Why give away what you have when you can profit from their need?” But his laughter was short-lived. One night, a fire broke out in his storehouse, consuming all his ill-gotten wealth. The flames lit up the sky, and the villagers watched in silence as Reuben’s riches turned to ashes. He stood in the ruins, his face pale with shock, and realized too late the folly of his ways.
Meanwhile, Eliab’s faithfulness bore fruit. The rains finally came, and his fields flourished once more. His wells provided water for the entire village, and his storehouses were replenished. The people praised him, but he gave all glory to the Lord, saying, “It is the Lord who gives and takes away; blessed be His name.” His children grew up in the fear of the Lord, and his household became a beacon of hope and righteousness in the community.
Reuben, now destitute and humbled, came to Eliab one evening. His eyes were filled with remorse, and his voice trembled as he spoke. “Brother,” he said, “I have sinned against the Lord and against you. I have walked in the way of the wicked, and it has brought me only sorrow. Teach me your ways, that I may find peace.”
Eliab embraced him and said, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Repent, and He will restore you. Remember the words of Solomon: ‘The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short’ (Proverbs 10:27). Turn from your ways, and the Lord will bless you.”
From that day forward, Reuben walked in the path of righteousness. He worked alongside Eliab, learning the value of honest labor and the joy of giving. Though his past was marked by folly, his future was filled with hope. The villagers marveled at the transformation, and many turned to the Lord, seeing His hand at work in the lives of these two men.
And so, the words of Proverbs 10 were fulfilled: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses” (Proverbs 10:11-12). Eliab and Reuben’s story became a living testimony, reminding all who heard it that the ways of the Lord lead to life, while the ways of the wicked lead to destruction. And in the end, it is the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom, and the path to true and lasting prosperity.
