Proverbs 11:16-31
16 A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
17 The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The wicked man does deceptive work,
But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19 As righteousness leads to life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
21 Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
25 The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26 The people will curse him who withholds grain,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like foliage.
29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who wins souls is wise.
31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.
More contrasts between the righteous and the wicked reveal what pleases God and what is abhorrent to Him. These aspects of understanding lead to wisdom to help us choose and do what is right in God’s eyes and not man’s distorted vision. It begins with showing grace to store up honor instead of storing up bigger barns of riches (Luke 12:18, 20-21, 34) as the shortsighted ruthless ones. Eternal riches in the heavens are the only ones which remain in the end. Cruel people who walk over others to gain that material wealth only bring trouble on themselves, while the merciful obtain mercy themselves (Psalm 18:25, Matthew 5:7). What do we sow in life? The wicked sow through deceit and run after evil works contrary to God’s word and suffer the consequences; the upright in heart aim their lives in the direction of God by sowing the righteousness and mercy shown them, and the reward does not fade away (1 Peter 1:4). One path leads to eternal death, the other to eternal life. God looks at the hearts of men and women to test us and see (1 Chronicles 29:17, 2 Chronicles 16:9) if we walk with Him as blamelessly as we can. Those whose hearts are completely His, men and women after God’s own heart, these are His delight and inheritance. No matter how many wicked gather together and pass laws to push unrighteousness and perversion of God’s commands, He will punish them in the end if they refuse to repent in their abominations. God is certainly never mocked by them, but He is honored by those following by the grace and righteousness found in Christ alone. Discretion then is needed, but is not fitting in those who continue in sin. Those who desire and live to please God find good, while the wrath of God remains on (John 3:18-19) those who continue to live contrary to God’s word and refuse His work (John 6:29) of grace and mercy for their deliverance from what is due to us all (Romans 3:23, 6:23). God brings good from our faithfulness to Him, even though we fail, because our hearts are set on following and repenting along the way. Those not even trying are unable to apart from Him in them, and they only find themselves impoverished as they refuse to serve others. In contrast, those serving others find increase from God as He waters their lives. By our generosity we find blessings in that sacrificial love; as we seek out good in this wisdom, we find His love and favor of grace instead of cursing and troubles. Therefore, we do not trust in crumbling riches but in His righteousness in which we rest and walk out in response. Yes, those opposed to God’s wisdom and who lack understanding will only inherit the tenuous wind and lose all as leaves falling from trees, while the righteous flourish and increase. These fruits of righteousness are a tree of life, especially when we share the good news and win souls to God through Christ (Psalm 126:5-6)! This is wisdom, living and telling the gospel. Yes, recompense comes to us all, either for good or evil. Is the reward eternal for is because we are found to be righteous, or does it bring only passing pleasure without a certain hope of the ungodly sinner? Understanding these things is the foundation of wisdom; scoffing in defiance of them or ignoring them is eternal folly. May they turn their evil around and live, for the word evil spelled backwards is live.
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