Benefits of Kindness

Proverbs 11:17-19:

17 A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.

The practical benefits of wisdom and righteousness have yet to be described so clearly. Goodness results in the return of goodness and visa versa. Though wickedness can have what appear to be rewards, they are nothing compared to what is offered, life.

Honor or Riches, Honor vs. Riches, or Honor and Riches

Proverbs 11:16:

16 A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.

Initially this verse seems to praise both graciousness and violence. That disconnection from the rest of scripture (and common sense) caused me to take a second look. I've narrowed it down to three possible meanings: 1) violent is meant to imply aggression so that a bold man gains riches 2) it is meant to show that because graciousness is more desirable than violence, then honor must be more desirable than riches 3) finally it could simply mean that as surely as a violent man gains, a gracious woman gains.

Promising the Unknowable

Proverbs 11:15:

15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.

Several chapters (and months) ago we described how to rectify unwise debt decisions. Here is how it begins. Proverbs makes an important distinction between friend and stranger. Helping others is certainly encouraged, but making promises you can't keep, or in this example supporting promises others can't keep, is not encouraged.

Safety in Numbers

Proverbs 11:14:

14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

If the wise are one of the main sources of wisdom, think how much more a group of the wise can offer. Direction is a necessity, and the more wise advisors the better.

Slanderous Gossip

Proverbs 11:12-13:

12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Gossip about others simply reveals how little you know. Often the wisest person is the quietest, humblest, person. If you are spreading inappropriate information, even correct inappropriate information, it shows you can't be trusted. I've come to realize that anytime you gossip with someone, you are telling that person never to share anything private with you. Don't forget, communities don't quickly forget.

The Upright Raise Up

Proverbs 11:9-11:

9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

We seen before that there are positive spillovers to righteousness, now we see there are negative spillovers to the wicked. This intuitively makes sense. Hard work, honesty, self-control, empathy, etc are all important for communities to flourish. Here we see the practicality of God's law.

Wealth Without Life

Proverbs 11:4-8:

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
7 When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.

Although God appreciates honest business and following him can have real tangible benefits, practically and relationally, human profits do not have long term significance. As the saying goes, you can't take it with you. Those who follow God's law (or more accurately admit they cannot), are delivered. Those who rebel, take themselves into trouble and misout on God's wealth.

Humility Prevents the Fall

Proverbs 11:2-3:

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

Like so much of our modern idioms, there is a Biblical source. Faith in ourselves will fail us. A person made righteous by Christ finds their strength in humility and freely admits it. That kind of honest integrity helps the wise produce wisdom to avoid the treachery of the miserable.

Honest Business

Proverbs 11:1:

1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.

The balance here is a scale for measuring. A rigged scale, one meant to swindle, is hated by God. Good business, on the other hand, is loved by God.  For someone who thinks a lot about business and virtue, I'm glad to see God delighting in honest business interactions.

The Wise Produce Wisdom

Proverbs 10:31-32:

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

We've heard that the wise desire wisdom. Here we see that the wise also produce it. They are able to determine what is right and apply it. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true.

Godly Steadiness

Proverbs 10:27-30:

27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
28 The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers.
30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

Religion can be seen as a refuge for the uncertain. But here we see that God is the only place where certainty can be found. His rich promises are our protective tower. Without it his followers would surely be destroyed. So perhaps the stereotype is true. Followers of God are unstable. But the hope of stability brings a uniquely Christian joy.

Bothersome Laziness

Proverbs 10:26:

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

The unique claim of Christianity is that it is not your work that gains you salvation, but that of Christ. However, that certainly doesn't free Christians from hard work. In verse we see that not only is hard work beneficial when appropriate, it helps those around us. When we don't work hard, we irritate everyone we come in contact with.