Proverbs 10:24 says…

What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted.

Generally our biggest fears are attached to the things that we value the most simply because we don’t want to lose them. Those who are described as wicked in the Bible are those who have chosen to value things above God. This is actually the essence of idolatry. It’s not wrong to value money but if you value it more than God, it will corrupt your soul. It’s not wrong to value your career but if you place it above God in your life, it will only bring heartache in the end.

“What the wicked dread will overtake them…” Perhaps the author of this proverb is telling us that we will lose the things that we value more than God. “…What the righteous desire will be granted.” As we seek God above all else, we will find that he gives us all kinds of things for our enjoyment because those things are not our idols. God has no problem blessing the careers and finances of people who have submitted to him because he knows that they will receive it as a gift to be thankful for. This is not to say that only followers of Christ thrive financially. That’s obviously not true. But this is to say that only followers of Christ can really enjoy the things of this world without dreading that they be taken away.

Those who follow God know that they’ve never seen a u-haul behind a hearse. You can’t take anything with you. They know that he who dies with the most toys does not win. They know that “success” in this life is obedience to Christ and they have a healthy relationship with the things of this world. They are able to enjoy the blessings of this life without letting them own them. They are free to live without fear.

The wicked on the other hand, are not free in this way. Because they have staked their claim in this world and not the next, this life is all they have. All they have is their money, their health, their relationships and that’s it. Therefore they most likely dread losing this world and that is exactly what will happen. The most tragic thing that they will lose in the process however, is much more serious. By prioritizing this world over their relationship with God, they have inadvertently and perhaps unintentionally neglected their soul. Now they not only lose their treasures here but also any possibility of hope in the next life.

So where does your treasure lie? What is success to you? Make sure your relationship with God is number 1 and you’ll get the rest thrown in. Prioritize the rest over God and you will end up empty handed.