Short. Relevant. Inspirational. Biblical.
The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. Proverbs 11:18
We fall into traps of envying the wealthy. It’s a trap but we often don’t recognize it as such. We think and dream about all the good it can do, all the good causes we could support. But money burns up and what do you have left?
Nothing but smoke and ashes.
Shouldn’t that tell us something?
The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. Proverbs 11:18
We don’t see it now, especially when we’re in the thick of things. We don’t see the rewards other than the temporal comments such as “thank you” or “you did a great job.” Occasionally we’ll get the recognition for a job well done, but often it will get overlooked and passed over for more important things. God, of course, remembers it all and has all of those rewards just waiting for us, though I believe that bowing before God Himself will be reward enough when the time comes.
Sometimes, though, the temporary reward may be knowing that you did the right thing when it wasn’t easy or possible.
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself. Proverbs 11:17
As discussed yesterday, guarding our hearts is so critical in maintaining a sweet spirit about us. We have to guard what goes in because if we continue to feed it with wrong and ungodly ideas, we will become cynical and ruthless.
In an age of “looking out for Number One,” it is the rare individual who is truly kind towards others. In fact, it’s not difficult at all to be a contrast to the world’s viewpoint.
But, it is essential that we guard our hearts.
Every day.
A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. Proverbs 11:16
This is an interesting set of contrasts. We have seen both in everyday life, and we have seen the genders switched and it’s still true.
Most of us know kindhearted men and women. These are the people we want to be around. Often they are humble and servant like. If they aren’t careful, others will take advantage of them.
Ruthless people, however, are polar opposites of kindhearted people. If wealth is their goal, they’ll use any means possible to achieve it. More often than not, they will be the people taking advantage of others, including the kindhearted folks.
Surprisingly enough, as we become cynical and uncaring, the jump to ruthlessness isn’t all that far. The Bible also says we should “above all else, guard our hearts for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23. That’s the key to maintaining a kind spirit.
He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe. Proverbs 11:15
We make a lot of promises that we don’t keep. Promises aren’t bad if we keep them but we often make them in haste. Then when we have failed to keep the promise, we feel guilty.
And we should.
Promises mean something.
The Bible also states that we are to let our “yes” be “yes” and let our “no” be “no”. It’s not a bad concept if you think about it.
For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure. Proverbs 11:14
The common translation for this verse read like this: without a vision the people fail…
Have you ever stopped to think about the kingdoms that have come and gone through the ages? At one time Rome ruled the world and everyone feared them. Genghis Khan once ruled. Alexander the Great. Great Britain. The list goes on and on. And they all fell, mostly crumbling from within. It’s a sobering reminder to us in the West that we are certainly not indestructible.
Pray for those advising the leaders in your country. Pray that they give sound and Godly counsel.
A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. Proverbs 11:13
Have you ever been hurt by gossip? Of course you have.
Have you ever hurt anyone by your gossip? Probably. So why do we continue to do it. Hundreds of verses remind us to guard our tongues but we still gossip. Why?
An even more insidious thing we do is to say, “if that person were here, I’d say the same thing.” Perhaps you would, but why don’t you wait until the person comes and find out?
Even in these last few verses, we see that God is showing us how hurtful and destructive our tongue can be.
Will we one day have an epiphany and discover that God was right all along about our tongues? Probably not, but it’s to remind ourselves of our dependence upon Him in matters of the tongue.
A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. Proverbs 11:13
Some reading this are in professions that require secrecy or confidentiality. The law requires us to guard our tongues or else we could face a lawsuit, damage someone’s reputation, or even damage national security.
Often, in matters unrelated to professional confidentiality or national security, it’s just wise to button up.
Think about this, if someone gossips something to you, you can be sure that what you say to that person will not be kept safe either.
A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. Proverbs 11:12
As I write this each day, I’m beginning to see a pattern. It seems that no matter which book I’m in, topics dealing with “the tongue” crop up: gossip, slander, deriding a neighbor, idle chatter, lying, coarse jesting. It’s throughout Scripture.
That should tell us something about what God thinks about what we say. It’s obvious that we can use our tongue for good or evil, the Book of James shows us that. Unfortunately we catch ourselves all too often using it to put down someone.
So, what to do? We need to guard what we say, everything we say, all the time. It’s not easy to do. In fact, it’s impossible to do without help from God.
Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. Proverbs 11:11
Essentially this verse can be summed up like this: good men (and women) make a city; terrible men destroy that same city. Think of what corruption does to a city. Think of how a city is destroyed through vandalism, violence, and crime. Think of a city like Detroit. It once was a great city but is but a shell of its former self. Corruption, crime, and violence are all reasons that people are running from the city.
Now think of a city where Godly men and women are doing what it takes to make it a better place. Yes there is still all of the baggage that cities carry. Politicians will do what they can to get re-elected. The professional criminal class will always try to get ahead by committing crimes, and they town will tolerate a small level of violence (not condone it, but tolerate).
In what ways are you making your city better? Have you prayed for its leaders? Do you know who they are? Before we tackle World Peace, perhaps we may want to look closer to home.
When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Proverbs 11:10
To be honest, hearing about the righteous prospering around the world is on the decrease. Our media outlets delight in giving only the bad news about a situation and rarely put Believers in a good light. Still, though, God and His truth is marching through the world.
We see it in Africa.
We see in Asia.
We even see it in the Middle East.
We see it in Central and South America.
Occasionally we see it in the West.
Sadly, yet almost appropriately, whenever the Church is persecuted it prospers in numbers and substance. Often village and city leaders do not know how to handle the change in attitude and behavior. They’ll throw pastors and Christian workers in prison; people pray more. They’ll toss church members in prison; others will find out and pray even harder, and often for their jailers!
Continue to pray for the Persecuted Church around the world. Pick a country: China, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and others. Pray that the Truth of God will march forward!
With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape. Proverbs 11:9
Have you ever put somebody down only to realize seconds (or even nanoseconds) later what you did? You might even ask, “which time this week are you referring to?”
The book of James, written to Believers, expands upon this theme, and warns strongly against gossip and idle chatter. I find it mildly satisfying when I hear and transmit a piece of gossip, only to regret it later. Part of it is my need to feel superior to the person being gossiped about; part of it is just wanting “dirt” on others, possibly to file it away for future usage.
Our tongues and our minds need to be sacrificed daily at the Altar of God as well. Or shall I say, “especially?”
The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead. Proverbs 11:8
It’s verses like this that I am tempted to skip, because, quite frankly, it’s troubling. It’s troubling because my experience in the real world does not play so nicely. I see bad people prospering, good people going through very hard times, even being persecuted for their faith, so what gives? I suspect your experience is similar. In fact, Jesus himself said, “in this world you will have tribulation…” How’s that for encouraging us!!
But He goes further, doesn’t He?
“But I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Who do you think does the rescuing?
When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing. Proverbs 11:7
Perhaps you’ve met “powerful” people in your life. Could be a politician. Could be a famous leader or an entertainer.
What happens, though, when that person has breathed his final breath? The power he once had is gone (his underlings may try to carry on the legacy, but often that doesn’t work well). The power he had for good or bad is now gone. Vanished. Disappeared into thin air.
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14
A mist.
Fortunately, though, our Hope is much more than a mist or a fleeting vapor. Our Hope is steadier than the Rock of Gibraltar, and more sure than the sun rising tomorrow!
When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing. Proverbs 11:7
Take away a man’s hope and he becomes nothing. Those who have survived prison camps testify to that fact. Once that hope is gone; the will to live is also gone.
Our Hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus name.
Our Hope is Jesus Christ. One day we will see Him face to face. One day we will feel and see the scars on his hands. One day he will take us home to glory. One day we will reign with Him.
‘Twill be a Great Day!
The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. Proverbs 11:6
What motivates you to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus? Is it “fire insurance?” Is it because of what Christ has done for us? Do you find yourself feeling inadequate and unequipped to do “great things for God?” Do you ever feel like you “should” be doing something more for the Kingdom?
We have all experienced those times in our lives when our motivations for serving Christ were not the purest in the world. Perhaps we’ve been envious of those who are seemingly making great strides for the Kingdom.
As I stated yesterday, our righteousness comes from Christ, and never from anything we do on our own merit. If it were Christ Plus something else, then his death on the Cross was meaningless.
We don’t do things for Christ because we must do them for our salvation, we do them because of the “work” He is doing in our lives.
The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. Proverbs 11:6
Have you ever seen a person back pedal and stammer and hem and haw when he is caught in a lie? It’s amazing to see the verbal calisthenics a person will perform just to cover over a simple lie. Telling the truth enables you not to have to perform verbal gymnastics just trying to make yourself look good.
But righteousness in this verse is much more than simply telling the truth.
Our righteousness comes from Christ. There is nothing good that comes from within ourselves; we instead take on the righteousness of Christ.
And that, my friends, is what will deliver us.
The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. Proverbs 11:5
If you’re like me, you want to see the unjust get their “just” punishments. If you were in control, evil would be completely eliminated from the earth and righteousness would rule supreme!
But hold on a second.
Before we celebrate our own righteous anger and hatred for all that is evil, don’t you think God already hates evil and perverseness and wickedness far worse than you or me?
We often forget that despite what the world looks like at any given time, God is in control. The reason he doesn’t eliminate evil from the world is because….God is in control.
He knew what He was doing far before we came along, and He’ll continue to know what He’s doing long after we’ve departed.
The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. Proverbs 11:5
Like it or not, we live in a Youtube culture. Everyone wants their “15 minutes of fame,” and they’ll take it in every way possible. Some even commit crimes in a video and post the video online, clearly proving the validity of the second half of this verse!
Today, consider the mire and “wickedness” Jesus Christ has brought you through. Consider the path you might have gone down were it not for Him and his righteousness. Renew your spirit with His grace and forgiveness.
The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. Proverbs 11:5
More than twenty years ago, we Boy Scouts sang “Vespers” before we headed off to bed:
“Softly falls the light of day
As our campfire fades away.
Silently each Scout should ask,
“have I done my daily task?
Have I kept my honor bright?
Can I guiltless sleep tonight?”
Have I done and have I dared
Everything to be prepared?”
Two questions in the midst of those lyrics touch upon our devotion theme today: honor and guiltless sleep.
As we head off to bed each night, can we answer those questions in the affirmative?
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4
As I mentioned yesterday, do you have contentment in your life? If you lost it all, could you still say as Job did:
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Job 1:20-22 ?
We have the “eternity thing” nailed down, but what about contentment in our everyday life? Is there anything you are not content with in your life right now? Why aren’t you content with those things? What is one thing you can do today to begin changing that, just one thing?
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4
The old maxim, I’ve never seen a U-Haul tied to a hearse, underscores the reality that “you can’t take it with you when you go.”
What benefit will it be to you if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Mark 8:36
That’s such a powerful verse. We in the West idolize the wealthy as if they have some extraordinary talents and gifts to bestow on us peons. Were Jesus to return tomorrow and take us home to be with Him, all the money in the world can’t buy that peace. Even the rich man in the Lazarus story wanted the Lord to send others to warn about what was to follow. His wealth meant nothing.
If you or I lost it all tomorrow, would we still be content?
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Proverbs 11:3
While we all mean well, we sometimes find ourselves dodging the truth on occasion. We then ask ourselves, “did I just say what I thought I said?” We may even go to the person to confess your half truth. What tends to happen, though, is that you let the little fib or half truth go (promising yourself not to ever do it again), then another opportunity comes along to make up for it. You blow it again. Soon, though, the half truth leads to outright lies. The change in the beginning is often subtle and unnoticeable. But then it snowballs.
The world pushes and pushes and pushes, and sometimes we break under the strain.
Ground yourselves in the Word of God. Continue to memorize and internalize Scripture. Seek God’s truth with a vengeance.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
In the first ten chapters and in the remaining 21 chapters, the theme will be wisdom. We don’t see a lot of humility in leadership, do we? Sadly, the church has bought into the notion of bigger equals better. The mentality sais “the bigger I build something (building or even the people in them),” the more God will approve of me. It’s never quite as blatant as that, but the sentiment exists. How sad is that!
What does it take to be humble? a realistic assessment of who you are and who God is.
When I look out into the ocean when I go to the beach, I get a fairly accurate view of myself in relation to nature, and yet God is over that!
Praise the Lord!
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
Have you ever seen a prideful person take a fall? “He deserved it,” we say. “We had it coming.”
We can clearly recognize the pride in others, but do we ever see it in ourselves? Chances are good that it can be a “blind spot.” Others, though, if you ask them, will let us know. Pride can be as brash as the leader of Iran taking on the military giants of the Western World, or as subtle as us looking down our noses at the homeless begging for money at intersections.
The next time you recognize pride in someone else, ask yourself how far you are on the spectrum of pride: “None at all” to “I’m God’s gift to Mankind!” Then ask someone ask to rate you like that. Compare your notes.
The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. Proverbs 11:1
This seems to be a theme interwoven into the Old Testament.
It’s probably a significant point the LORD wants to make regarding dishonest practices in relation to your customers and business dealings. The temptation to be dishonest “just a little” is prevalent and pervasive. We can only make the right choice with God’s help.
The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. Proverbs 10:32
For those who’ve been with this devotional for a while, you’ll recall this quote from the Klondike Kat cartoon (back in the day): “Savoire Faire is everywhere.” What is it? Knowing what to do in every situation. When presented with very good choices, it’s always difficult to choose the best. You play scenarios over and over in your mind, and each choice seems plausible.
In regards to moral and ethical issues, the choices get easier. Does it or does it not please God? Answer that question and your life just got a lot easier. Personally, I’m not so good with the “gray areas” of my life, the choices where it’s not a moral issue and all choices seem good. What to do?
To quote the famous maxim from St. Augustine of Assisi: “love God and do what you want.” It’s not exactly what you want to hear in an age or rules and structure, but in the end it does work. Think about it.
The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. Proverbs 10:32
It’s been more than 25 years now, but I still recall the gutter mouth I had before I became a Christian. The second half to this verse fit me to a T. A foul mouth was just one area that was wicked and perverse. I thank God for the changed life He’s given me. Today, as you reflect on this verse, give your life to Him anew. Thank Him for His Goodness and Grace. Thank Him for what He’s brought you through. You can’t know for sure what your life would have looked life without Christ, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
More importantly, thank Him for the New Life you are seeking to live with the help of the Holy Spirit.
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. Proverbs 10:31
Remember when your mom told you that if you “ever use that kind of language again, I’ll wash your mouth out with soap?” Her point was clear: you swear or tell dirty jokes again and you will regret it. There was a reason she said what she said: “good kids don’t need to resort to perverse language to communicate.” And she was right. It wasn’t healthy to use then and little has changed to make it more acceptable or more healthy to us it now.
But there is even a subtler form of perverse language that we engage in that is equally destructive: insults and put downs. It could come in the form of sarcasm or snide remarks.
Pay careful attention to your “off-color” language today as it relates to insults and put downs. You don’t know the battles that others are facing. You don’t know the pressures that person is under (whether real or perceived, it doesn’t matter). Tame your tongue.
Speak life and encouragement into someone’s life today.
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. Proverbs 10:31
Do you delight in bringing forth wisdom when you speak? It is a rare treat indeed when I look back at some of the things I’ve said only to realize that it wasn’t me who had the profound wisdom at the moment but the Lord prompting me. Often, though, I may pat myself on the back, basking at my own wisdom, delighting in being right yet again, and not at all realizing that humility goes hand in hand with this wisdom.
Continue to memorize and internalize those memory verses so that we can speak wisdom into others’ lives often and soon.
The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land. Proverbs 10:30
Wouldn’t it just be great if all those who disagree with you would just go away? Unfortunately that will never happen this side of heaven. And if you think about it, many who disagree with you will also be in heaven!
Instead we have to deal with the fallout of the Fall. The wicked are part of that equation.
In contrast to the first half of the verse, the wicked are never satisfied. They have many “mini-gods” they serve: self, money, jobs, glamour, prestige, etc. They don’t have a lot of foundation.
Take the time today to pray for one or two non-believing friends. Pray that God will cause situations in their lives to cause them to be empty and destitute.
Then pray that you can be an instrument in telling them the Good News of Christ as an opportune moment.
