On the fiddle.

Day 2.

10:2 Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,
but righteousness delivers from death.

One mark of a foolish son is moral ambiguity. Ill-gotten treasures can be anything from outright stealing, fiddling a tax return, cheating on benefits and a whole host of other things. In some cultures corruption is the norm and when you have corruption in high places it trickles down, everybody is doing it. How do we resist such a culture? In Matthew 5 v13-16 Jesus talks about being salt and light; salt stops the rot and light shines in dark places. A simple no might cause you problems because it highlights another’s sinfulness but it might also make them think.

Of course you could easily argue that the writer is wrong here. £100 gained honestly has just as much value as the same amount acquired dishonestly, Ill-gotten treasures are still treasure, they still buy the same amount of things, but of course it's the contrast that speaks to us; righteousness delivers from death. The father is teaching his son the value of eternal treasures rather than financial management principles. We're not building bank accounts on earth but laying up treasure in heaven. Eternity is in view.

Matthew 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.