Proverbs 11:12-21 – Living life with impact

People who live righteously are a delight to the community. They encourage and motivate goodwill towards others. This is not so with people who refuse to walk uprightly. They are a constant menace to others. Proverbs 11:12-21 show us how disruptive their lives can be. They are not only offensive to God but to others as well.

First and foremost, such a person is condescending. He looks down on another. Verse 12 says that such a person lacks sense. He openly despises his neighbour. In so doing he has acted foolishly. On the other hand, one who is sensible shows restrain. He may not exactly agree with his neighbou’s behaviour, but he keeps the thoughts to himself without being critical. He does nothing to create friction or tension.  

Secondly, a person who would bring disruption to a community is a talebearer. He cannot keep a secret to himself. He goes around gossiping and spreading malicious chatter, creating misunderstanding. Such a person cannot be trusted with anything. But a person who is trustworthy is reliable. He does not reveal secret but is tight-lipped and thus is a good confidant. He has a right disposition and has the welfare for others at heart. He does not spill the beans even when he stumbles into a secret.   

Thirdly, a person who does not walk uprightly is not a wise counsellor. He cannot be counted to provide sound admonition in life. Without many wise counsellors a community will be lacking people to steer it into right direction. The community will surely fall flat. On the other hand, when the community has many wise counsellors, the more the merrier, the community is secure and safe.

Fourthly, a person who offers himself as a collateral is unwise. Remember we have discussed this earlier. As a co-signee, a person stands at risk of losing what he has and has put his own wealth at the disposal of the person he stands as a guarantor. He cannot estimate the financial harm he had put himself under. One who refuses to be a guarantor exposes himself to no such risk, and free himself from worry, to live life with ease. 

Fifthly, verse 16 compares a gracious woman to an aggressive man. The gracious woman quietly exerts her influence with her chaste behaviour. She will be such an honour to her family and community. Conversely, a ruthless man, at best by his aggression, can only acquire wealth. The subtle implication is this: grace is more effective than strength, and honour is better than wealth. A person who is upright prefers to be gracious and not exert his power and right unnecessarily. He sees honour as more important than wealth. In a sense such a person has a proper perspective on what to give priority to in life.  

Sixthly, a cruel person will show no mercy. He deals with other harshly and spitefully. He is one who creates enemies and animosity. In contrast a kind person will show himself merciful. He acts judiciously with lots of empathy and will certainly be a blessing to his community. He will be preferred than one who is ruthless and cruel. The action of a kind person is winsome and enable others to approve, appreciate and accept him. Whereas a cruel person repels others and brings harm to himself.

Seventhly, verses 17-18 show us two characters – the wicked and the righteous. They are at opposite ends in the way they conduct their life. The former is deceptive and he will reap through falsehood. Such a person will end in destruction and ruin to himself. The word used here for such ruin is death. The righteous on the other hand sows righteously and reap sure rewards of holiness, and find true life indeed.

Verses 20-21, we have the view of God on the perverse as well as the righteous. The perverse is abhorrent to the Lord. He greatly detests such a character. They are totally repugnant. God on the other hand takes great delight in the upright who has chosen to walk in divinely appointed blameless ways. The wicked will certainly not go unpunished whereas the upright and his posterity will be richly rewarded. How we must live life is clearly delineated for us in these ten verses. Here we are brought back to the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 30:19, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So, choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” Let’s choose wisely!