Proverbs 17:1-5 – The need for peace in the home and community

Peace is the climate of freedom. It is the state of tranquility free from any strife or disturbance. Jesus is known as the Prince of peace and the peace He grants us is not like that of the world. He said so in John 14:2, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” Peace is priceless. We need it when we are young and we also need it when we grow old. In fact, we need it at every stage and in every aspect of life. Proverbs 17:1-5 begin by showing us that we need peace in the family as well as in the community.  

Verses 1-3 say we need peace in our home. Even if a home does not have much to go by, freedom from strife and misery is preferred to one that has plenty of rich food but riddled with unending strife. Verse 2 tells us that to have a servant in the home who is dependable is better than a son who lives shamefully. An obedient son is a delight to his parents. But a servant who performs his work wisely shows himself worthier of honour that a son who misbehaves. Such a servant will find himself being honoured as a member of the family. Verse 3 tells us that our sovereign God is the one who is in control of our life. He will test us, his children, and reveal to us the inner motives of our hearts. He will allow trials and hard times to bring about the best version of us. Trials are not meant to destroy us but to bring out the best in us. Just like the refining pot and furnace that are used to refine silver and gold, the trials of our life are there to hone and shape our character. Here we see the call of James 1:2-4 being echoed. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  

Verses 4-5 say we need peace in our community. Whether in a family or in a community, we need to relate with others with honesty, then only can peaceful co-existence be experienced.  A community is made up of all sorts of people, both honest and the not-so-honest. All it takes is one evil person, and the peace of the community will be disrupted. An evil person who hides iniquity in his heart, verse 4 says, will give attention to lies and falsehood. He will entertain gossips and slanders and in so doing, he encourages rumour mongering. This will disrupt the peaceful state of the community. But this is not so with those who are discerning. They can recognise where the speaker is coming from and read the real thoughts and intention of one who devises evil. They can identify when a person is gossiping and slandering and will disengage himself from the gossiper. Remember that gossips can be hazardous and bring strife instead of peace to the community. They destroy a person’s character and ruin his reputation.

Verse 5 gives hint that we should honour everyone even if a person is poor and of little means. Like any human being, he too is made in the image and likeness of God. To mock his condition is to make fun of the God who had made that person too. Think of it this way, the poor in our midst are there to stir up our compassion for the less fortunate. It should help us to consider how we can exercise kindness and reflect the goodness of God. To demean them is not congruent to the calling and mission God has mandated us. To rejoice in the misfortune of others is to show contempt for God. Let us learn to honour all.  In Christ, we have peace with God, with self and with others. So, live it!