He who makes this investment lays up double treasure. Besides that which, however wisely improved, he must leave at last, he is amassing wealth for eternity,—that treasure of character which is the most valuable possession of earth or heaven. * * * * * [Sidenote: _Insurance_] “The Lord knoweth the days of the upright; and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time; and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.”[209] “He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart; ... he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not;” “he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, ... and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high; ... bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off.”[210] God has given in His word a picture of a prosperous man,—one whose life was in the truest sense a success, a man whom both heaven and earth delighted to honor. Of his experiences Job himself says:— [Sidenote: _A Successful Career_] “In the ripeness of my days, When the secret of God was upon my tent; When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me; ... When I went forth to the gate unto the city, When I prepared my seat in the broad place,[211] The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged rose up and stood; The princes refrained talking, And laid their hand on their mouth; The voice of the nobles was hushed.... “For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me; Because I delivered the poor that cried, The fatherless also, and him[211] that had none to help him. “The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the needy; And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.” “The stranger did not lodge in the street; But I opened my doors to the traveler.” “Unto me men gave ear, and waited.... [Sidenote: _Its Crown of Honor_] And the light of my countenance they cast not down. I chose out their way, and sat chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that _comforteth the mourners_.”[212] “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.”[213] “Riches and honor are with Me,” declares Wisdom; “yea, durable riches and righteousness.”[214] [Sidenote: _A Fruitless Venture_] The Bible shows also the result of a departure from right principles in our dealing both with God and with one another. To those who are entrusted with His gifts but indifferent to His claims, God says:—