Proverbs 11 PAYDAY ALWAYS COMES Some of the proverbs are personal and have to do with things in our lives that no one else will know about but God. Others are more to do with public lives and the workplace. Much of this group of proverbs has to do with our interaction in general society and in the way we do our business. In business, honesty in every way is expected by the Lord. Deceit and dishonesty are detested by God because it reflects on His perfect standard of righteousness. It is possible to be dishonest in wasting our time for which we are being paid, pretending one thing while doing another. An accurate scale is essential in all our dealings with other people. Any deviation from God holy standard, is a rejection of His will and His nature.
At this time, people seem to think that their own sense of worth is all-important in order to be a fulfilled person. So, with pride and an “Up with man!” mentality, people praise themselves and expect others to praise them too. For some reason true humility is despised as considered weakness. Actually, pride will bring shame and disgrace because “God resists the proud…” A person of humility knows who he or she really is and consciously live in the presence of God who “gives grace to the humble.” A person of integrity can be trusted because they have been tested and proved in honest, morality, loyalty – in good times and bad. His word is in obedience to the word of God. A person of integrity is a good guide. This is in contrast to those who have a duplicitous reputation and can’t be trusted to tell the truth in business, in giving information, or in what they want from you. They have a personal agenda for their own purposes.
No matter how much money a person has, it won’t help them in the day of judgment. That judgment could be natural disaster even now as well as when one stands before God. Wind, water and fire – terminal illness cannot be stopped with one’s accumulated wealth. Those who have been saved by God’s grace can face death and the future without fear, because they have the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. We have been reconciled to God and love Him because He first loved us. It is our desire to obey and serve Him. Out in the public, one who follows the word of God as our chart and compass for life, and the Holy Spirit as our teacher, can be counted on to be trustworthy and blameless in their labor. No lasting charges can be laid against one who walks a straight consistent path in life. They would not claim to be sinless, but they want to live godly in Christ Jesus. The contrast is those who choose to go their own lawless way, and they will fall and perish because of their sin.
We are preserved from many snares and pitfalls in this world when we are committed to being upright in business and in our personal life. Our choices affect our actions and the consequences that follow. The lustful acts of ungodly people will come back to capture and bite them. Every person has an appointment with death. Believers in Christ “depart to be with Christ” which is far better that life as we know it now. But when an ungodly person dies, he goes out into eternity to “perish,” be separated from God forever in hell and the lake of fire. People who have built their hopes on an ungodly person to provide good leadership or come up with some remarkable discovery to help them, have put their hopes on something that is vain and empty.
The righteous are delivered from trouble, like Mordecai was delivered from Hamman. The trouble that Hamman had planned for Mordecai fell on his own head, and he was hung on gallows he had made. False accusations break friendships and make bad neighbors. The mouth can build up a relationship or hurt it depending on whether it is used as a tool or a weapon. The wicked make false accusations. The righteous use their mouths as a tool to gain knowledge. Such a person is delivered from false accusations by his calm consistency, his moral conduct and his Christian character.
When a leader is just and impartial, his fairness makes him accepted and respected. His leadership gives stability to those for whom he is responsible. Virtue is never out of place. When wicked leadership is overthrown, there is relief, joy and hope is kindled in the people. When citizens of a society are respectable, godly people, the reputation of that community is good. When rioters and rabble-rousers have their deceitful way, a society, whether a city or a nation, will soon fall.
Our neighbors deserve our respect if and when we can honestly give it. If we can’t do that, then just keep silent. One man in this verse is putting others down for some supposed reason he has. The other man doesn’t say anything because the time may come when he needs the help of those around him. When information is passed on that should be kept secret, it is usually because the talebearer is seeking to gain some advantage over others for a selfish motive. A trustworthy person keeps private that which he knows is confidential. There are times when a few choice words are all that are needed to correct a problem. A talebearer makes “a mountain out of a molehill.”
Whenever counsel is asked for, don’t think that one person has all the answers. Shared advice and a variety of opinions keep a person from making a serious mistake because of the shared knowledge of a number of people. Often quite a lot of people are affected by the decision one person makes. Elders of an assembly, older people of experience are useful counselors. Then when someone you don’t know wants you to lend them money, you will remember not to throw away your money to finance something another person does. If you do, you are responsible for what is done with it, or what is not done. We are stewards of that which God has let us have to use. Do not be careless of that which is not really yours.
The care and concern of a man who has interest in the well-being of others are good for your own health. “Give and it shall be given unto you.” A selfish cruel man will bring down on himself consequences that stress, covetousness and dissatisfaction produce in him emotionally and physically. When a person is satisfied with getting away with as little labor as possible on the job, anything he gets for his deceptive work will have no real value. His conscience, and those he did not know were watching him will ultimately expose him. A farmer or workman who does his best, labors hard, and excels in his work, is guaranteed a good return in some way or another. When the bent of a person’s life is to do right in his labor and service done “as unto the Lord,” the promise of heaven and eternal life are his now and forever. The person who chooses to do wrong, and pursues evil, will be lost eternally.
Corrupt, devious, crooked and perverse people are detested by the Lord. Those who walk a moral, blameless and upright life, delight the heart of God. There is no escaping the righteous judgment of God for those who do evil, even if there are a whole lot of people who do the same things. Those who live for God, He will deliver by His power according to His will without any needed assistance from people. You can wash a pig, dress it up and make it a pet – even put a gold ring in its nose, but it is still a pig. The same principle is true for a beautiful woman who is ignorant and without discernment inwardly. Outward physical attraction doesn’t last, and a person who lacks discretion is not pleasant to even be around, nor to work with, or live with.
Good and bad are not able to be blended. They do not mix. An upright person who lives his or her life conscious of god and has love for God, can look forward to the blessings of God. The person who chooses wickedness and wants what they know is wrong, will find the wrath of God is upon those who do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not want Him in their life. It is hard for many people to understand that generosity in giving increases what we receive. The way to get is to give. We have time, energy, money and the seed of the Gospel to give. The joy of giving is far greater that any satisfaction we might have from hoarding what we have. God is easily able to take away whatever we think is our own. To share what we have with others, warms our own soul, blesses others and honor the Lord. “Remember this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” [2Cor.9:6 NIV].
It is not uncommon for people to hold back selling their grain watching the “futures market” to get the highest possible price. However, when food is scarce and people need what you have, if you still hold out for more, people will despise and curse on you. If you make available what you have, they will ask God’s blessing on it and on you. Take every advantage to do good. When you diligently seek that which is good, you will find it. If you are looking for sin and self- centered gratification, you will find the evil that goes with it. What you really look for, good or bad, is what you will find.
What a person depends on is indicative of the person they are. Those who trust in riches will find they fail him. It will cause his downfall. Those who trust in the Lord will find they flourish spiritually and emotionally. They will be happy and will ne known as a person who knows how to live because they know what is important in life. Covetous business people, gamblers – people who bring ruin on their family for any sinful reason, will have nothing of real value to leave behind. They will have lost all they hoped to have, plus their reputation, their self-worth and their family.
Wise people are a blessing to all who will be blessed by the fruit of your life. Soul-winning, guiding and caring for a family, serving God’s people are all good things that produce the fruit of real spiritual life and growth. The appealing life of a child of God is a great blessing and can be used by Him when we are leading souls to Christ. However, discipline does come to believers who have stepped out of the path of divine guidance. Wise and faithful servants of the Lord will have times of correction and discipline to change their behavior. Of how much sorer punishment will those who have rejected God, refused to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and have chosen sin over salvation, receive when the final payday comes.