Well today I start Spring Cleaning - I have decided to do a room a day... Praise the Lord I live in a house with 11 rooms (including laundry rooms and bathrooms). Today I have selected the laundry room.... setting myself up for success. We will see how much trash I can purge and how many bags I can get ready for Goodwill.
We are getting into the portion of Proverbs that I love. So in preparing for this email/post I have decided to comment only on a portion of scripture. I would love for you to weigh in your thoughts on Proverbs 11 in the comments... I would love to get to a point where this becomes conversational! Let's give it a try!
Proverbs 11
1 The LORD detests dishonest scales,
but accurate weights find favor with him.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.
8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead.
9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but victory is won through many advisers.
15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Truly the righteous attain life,
but whoever pursues evil finds death.
20 The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse,
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
but evil comes to one who searches for it.
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the one who is wise saves lives.
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
My thoughts and take-aways:
What is the definition of righteous?
According to Merriam Webster Dictionary:
Definition of RIGHTEOUS
1: acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin
2a : morally right or justifiable
b : arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality
3slang : genuine, excellent
This portion of scripture speaks highly of righteousness. I have bolded the scritpures above that are commands, rewards and directions for the Christian seeking righteousness.
What does being righteous mean to you?
Leave a comment...
Love to all!
M
Righteous, in my mind, has a few negative knee jerk thoughts.....it is almost hard to use that word with anyone here on earth - how could we be righteous when we are so sin-ful? Yet, when it is used, it seems to be in the context for many of "stop being so righteous". To be righteous for me is to be God fearing, wise, forgiving, humble, compassionate, grateful - my list could go on and on.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note: In a portion of this scripture (v. 9) it talks about our words could destroy someone. I love how my study bible says that every person you meet today is etiehr a demolition site or a construction opportunity - based on how you speak to them. Such a great thought!
I agree with you - and thus it can be hard for us to wrap our minds around Christ's intention for our lives.
ReplyDelete