Proverbs 28 RIGHTEOUSNESS VS EVIL Doing what is right according to the laws of the land for most people is what they seek to do. They don’t want to take chances because of the consequences of law-breaking. There are fines for traffic violations and other infractions of the law. There are jail sentences when some laws are broken. So, the fear of the consequences of breaking the law keeps order in society. However, many people break the moral law of God and think nothing of it. Because justice isn’t immediate in coming, they think it will never come. If it weren’t for the grace and mercy of God, every living human being would already be in hell for the evil we have done. Those who God saved should be as committed to moral righteous living as to legal righteousness.
A person committed to living for God, can live in confidence with a good conscience before God and men. One who chooses to do what he knows is wrong, is afraid of the consequences of getting caught. They have to keep looking around and behind themselves, and running in fear and the nagging worry that won’t go away. Hezekiah knew the consequences of Israel’s rebellion prohibited a stable society, and caused the change of leadership often. Wise leaders are needed in every part of life, but they are hard to find. When selfishness is in leaders, anarchy prevails. When anarchy prevails, instability is inevitable. When there is instability in leaders; businesses, assemblies and governments fail. Sound judgment and knowledge – the right information, are necessary for righteousness to prevail.
When a poor person is given a position of authority over his peers who are in the same condition as he, that person often becomes aggressive because of the power he can exert over those in the same condition. He is like a huge downpour of rain that destroys a crop rather than nourishes it. His actions of evil overwhelm the potential good he was in a position to give. To ignore the laws of God, people lose their sense of right and wrong. A righteous person knows enough about morality to stand against evil-doers whose inner character is exposed by their lack of integrity. Discernment is lost when God’s standards are lost or rejected. God’s character is revealed in His moral law. Those who do evil are blind to what real justice is. Justice not only makes sense to righteous people; they pursue it in life and in that way carry it out in practical ways. Integrity and righteous living are a far better way to live than to be a rich, deceitful, crooked man who has a lot of things, but is nothing in himself.
A son who has learned to do what is right, either by respecting the law, or respects the law by learning from his parents; is a wise, discerning credit to his family and himself. A son who throws off restraint and has evil people for his companions, disgraces his parents and the family name. Getting rich at the expense of other people, either by charging high interest rates or illegal means, is always wrong. Eventually what he has accumulated in this way, will end up where it belongs. If a person refuses to do what is right, he can pray all he wants, but God detests his prayers. One can say the right words in prayer, but if he doesn’t intend to do right and to seek to do the Lord’s will, he will not find grace or mercy from God. Prayer must be honest communication with God.
Evil plots against people, or traps set to catch them for sinful gain, will catch the person who plans and sets those deceitful things. A person who maintains his integrity and good character, can expect good to come. Not all rich men are wise. A rich man may think he is clever, but a poor honest man can see right through him. A poor man of righteous character has riches that are not in fleeting, failing finances.
Public policy affects the whole population. A wise righteous leader gives reasons for joy in those who are under his leadership. A wicked leader makes good people want to escape and hide from his evil plans. To try to cover our sins and overlook what we have done wrong, is normal but wrong. Mistakes are often our best teachers. To cover our sins will leave a person with emotional guilt, a bad conscience – and those can even bring physical problems. To admit mistakes and learn from them will make us wiser, as long as we don’t do them again. Be specific in making any confession to God or people. To fear and honor the Lord in reverence and respect will bring blessing to us. To be hardened against God, and indifferent toward evil, will bring trouble.
A public leader who does not control his anger, temper and actions, is a danger to himself and those he leads. His leadership of oppression, his greed for gain he does not deserve, will soon bring his leadership to an end. A leader who is fair and righteous will be leading his people for a long time because people will respect him. A person who is tormented by guilt, will not be able to escape the pangs of remorse and a guilty conscience. Repentance or death are the only solution to deal with a terrible evil act. To try to make a guilty person “feel good about themselves,” is no kindness to him. There are costs for sin that must be paid and cannot be avoided. A blameless person is not perfect, but he maintains a normal consistency of righteousness. He commits himself to doing what is right, and repents and forsakes sin when he does wrong. In contrast the evil person will suffer the consequences of his perverse ways.
It takes work to do what is right, but there are great benefits as a result. To live in a fantasy world of pleasure and neglect of responsibility, will leave a person poverty stricken. God blesses a trustworthy, faithful person who is obedient to Him and follows His word. The person who wants to get rich quick with illegal schemes, will pay the consequences of his actions. Partiality is wrong, even if it is shown for something that is common or trivial. Bribes for any reason are wrong. One who craves riches is a stingy person with what he has already, and he still wants more. It is the generous soul that prospers in contrast to the stingy person who is likely to lose everything.
A faithful friend will rebuke and/or correct whenever it is needed. He will be appreciated for it because he obviously cares enough about the friendship to preserve a friend from being demeaned. The person who flatters deceptively, usually has an ulterior motive behind his words. Some children think it is their right to claim for themselves that for which their parents have worked for a lifetime. When he takes it, he destroys any trust they have in the child as well as the peace of mind he might have been able to give them. A proud greedy person who is self-centered and covetous, creates strife. The person who trusts the Lord is generous, diligent and contented with whatever he has. He has a satisfied mind.
Bold, self-reliant people trust in themselves, but they limit themselves to the bare essentials they can provide. A wise person has learned to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not on thine own understanding.” Wise people acknowledge their need of God and have confidence in Him. Generosity in meeting needs of others will make them want to help us in our time of need. If I ignore the needs of those around me, the only thing I can expect is for them to curse me. When wicked leaders become prominent in any area of leadership, people will hide from them and the evil things they do and promote. Citizens will be glad when that leader dies. Then they will come out in the open and will do good for the whole group.