Despising Treasures

Human beings frequently measure themselves against one another rather than God Himself. In this way, they convince themselves that they are pretty good folks and therefore completely undeserving of divine judgment. But while this may be a common tendency, it is nonsensical, Paul declares. Those who think this way are misunderstanding their own sin and God’s standard for righteousness. And furthermore, such arrogant self-deception is a criminal waste of one of the most priceless gifts God has given to natural man—time to repent. Though people’s sin merits immediate death, God gives a window of opportunity in which they can and should turn to Him. But they fritter it away judging others rather than themselves.

Those who do this are giving further evidence of the “futility” of their thinking (Rom. 1:21), for they are despising treasures: God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. When Paul speaks of divine “goodness,” according to Dr. James M. Boice, he is thinking of God’s actions toward us, such as creating us, sustaining us, and, supremely, giving us the Gospel message. There is no doubt that human beings should be grateful to God for all the good things He has done for them (Rom. 1:21). “Forbearance” (or tolerance or clemency) has to do with God’s endurance of our offenses against His goodness. His wrath rightfully should fall on sinners immediately, but He withholds it. “Longsuffering” (or patience) is a wonderfully chosen word, implying exactly what it means: God “suffers” (or endures) our rebellion for a long time. His forbearance is extensive. The good, tolerant, and patient God delays the execution of His final wrath to give human beings every opportunity to turn from their sin in repentance. When they refuse to do so, they show utter contempt for these glorious perfections of His character.

Such contempt is, of course, a hideous sin in and of itself, and when people behave so they are “treasuring up,” or earning, the just wrath of God for themselves. A day is coming, Paul assures the Romans, when God will make His feelings about sin known to all. While He is “revealing” His wrath now by abandoning people to their sin, they will feel the full force of it only on that future day, when the just God will judge righteously.