Eternal Importance of Family

Proverbs 11:29-31:

29 Whoever troubles his own household 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 whoever captures souls is wise.
31 If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

With the holiday season upon us, for most that means more time with family. For many that means more conflict. The Bible is clear about how wise children treat and learn from our family, specifically our parents. We should be positive influences, not drains on them. We should produce life saving fruit. The benefits of which can be seen while we are alive, and even more once we are dead.

Seek Nourishing Goodness

Proverbs 11:27-28:

27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

It is no surprise that you get what you search for. God rightly delivers satisfaction to those who seek good and there is plenty of evil to be found. However, these two contrasting goals do not have similar results. If your trust in things, they will not bring happiness. Only seeking goodness will allow us to thrive as we were made to do.

Trade Not Haggle

Proverbs 11:26:

26 The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

In the same way work is praised and laziness is shamed, the result is that blessings are on the person who is willing to sell. Hoarding will result in community condemnation, but mutually beneficial exchange is what sustains a community. As a self-proclaimed proponent of the benefits of the free market, I'm glad to read Proverbs figured this out thousands of years before Adam Smith.

Give Until It Hurts

Proverbs 11:24-25:

24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

There are practical benefits to being kind. The same is true for being generous. I'm not convinced this is a guarantee that giving will see a one to one return. Instead, I think it is talking about the personal feeling or even social benefits of giving. Here we see a high standard for giving. We are encouraged to give until we not only can't get what we want, but what we need. If we only suffer want, we are being stingy. As tough as that sounds to uphold, we must trust in the promise of satisfaction.

Desire Inner Beauty

Proverbs 11:22-23:

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

A beautiful face on a wicked person is like dressing up a pig. What a clear explanation. Yet so much energy is exerted to clean up the outside, when it is the inside is what determines our outcome. Our desire for good, not the appearance of good, will end in goodness.

Promise for Our Children

Proverbs 11:21:

21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

Not only is our own salvation important, so are our children. This goes right along with the Biblical role of parents and generational education. There are fewer promises that are so encouraging. That God's covenant with us can extend to our children. However it also shows the long last impacts of our life. How a parents' actions can be seen in their children and their children's children.

We are All Abominations

Proverbs 11:20:

20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.

The word abomination brings us specific ideas in many Americans heads. The word is more famously used in Leviticus 20:13 to describe homosexuality, a very politically and culturally charged offense. It's important to note that without Christ we are all deceivers, we are all  unrighteous, we are all abominations when held to the perfect standard of God.