What
a difference there is between the ‘wise’ and the ‘foolish’. It is the
difference between ‘righteousness’ and ‘wickedness’(1-2). Throughout
life, there are choices to be made. We may choose wisely, being led by
the Lord ‘in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake’. We may
choose foolishly, going ‘astray’, refusing to ‘call upon the
Lord’(Psalms 23:3-4; 14:2-4). We must be very careful about the choices
we make. There is a ‘way that leads to life’ and a ‘way that leads to
destruction’(16-17; Matthew 7:13-14). ‘Flee from the wrath to come’.
Choose Christ. Choose life. ‘He who believes in the Son has eternal
life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of
God rests upon him’(Matthew 3:7; John 3:36).Choose Him now. ‘Now is the
day of salvation’(2 Corinthians 6:2).
Proverbs 10:23-11:11
'‘With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbour’ (9) - This kind of thing is going on all the time! There is no respect for the ‘neighbour’. An easy target, he is treated with contempt. He is slandered without mercy. It is not without reason that God’s Word says to us, ‘The tongue is a fire… With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men… My brethren, this ought not to be so’(James 3:6-10). God knows what we are like. We ‘destroy’ people with ‘the tongue’. It is character assassination. What drastic effects this kind of thing can have: ‘a city… is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked’! Can the blessing return again? God’s Word is clear - ‘By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted’- , but we must learn to speak and live as ‘the upright’ and not as ‘the wicked’(11).
Proverbs 11:12-31
‘He who wins souls is wise’(30). ‘He who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward’(18). Righteousness is not purely a private matter. God’s Word tells us that ‘those who turn many to righteousness shall shine like stars for ever and ever’(Daniel 12:3). Winning others for Jesus Christ is not easy. To those who commit themselves to this great work, God gives His precious promise: ‘He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him’(Psalm 126:6). In this work, we must remember: It is not what we do that makes the real difference. It is the Lord working through us. Never forget: ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain’(Psalm 127:1). Always remember: When our work is done ‘in the Lord’, it is never ‘in vain’(1 Corinthians 15:58).
Proverbs 10:23-11:11
'‘With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbour’ (9) - This kind of thing is going on all the time! There is no respect for the ‘neighbour’. An easy target, he is treated with contempt. He is slandered without mercy. It is not without reason that God’s Word says to us, ‘The tongue is a fire… With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men… My brethren, this ought not to be so’(James 3:6-10). God knows what we are like. We ‘destroy’ people with ‘the tongue’. It is character assassination. What drastic effects this kind of thing can have: ‘a city… is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked’! Can the blessing return again? God’s Word is clear - ‘By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted’- , but we must learn to speak and live as ‘the upright’ and not as ‘the wicked’(11).
Proverbs 11:12-31
‘He who wins souls is wise’(30). ‘He who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward’(18). Righteousness is not purely a private matter. God’s Word tells us that ‘those who turn many to righteousness shall shine like stars for ever and ever’(Daniel 12:3). Winning others for Jesus Christ is not easy. To those who commit themselves to this great work, God gives His precious promise: ‘He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him’(Psalm 126:6). In this work, we must remember: It is not what we do that makes the real difference. It is the Lord working through us. Never forget: ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain’(Psalm 127:1). Always remember: When our work is done ‘in the Lord’, it is never ‘in vain’(1 Corinthians 15:58).
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