He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
Wisdom’s Great Gain: Honesty In Our Dealings
With Others: Proverbs 11:1-4
1) A false balance [is]
abomination to the LORD: but a just weight [is]
his delight.
2) [When] pride cometh, then
cometh shame: but with the lowly [is]
wisdom.
3) The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness
of transgressors shall destroy them.
4) Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth
from death.
In
chapter 11, Solomon shares with us a series of proverbs that reveal 8 practical
displays of wisdom that reap great gain for the wise and all who come in
contact with them.
EXPOSITION:
In
this first section, wisdom results in honest dealings with those around us…
1) A false balance [is]
abomination to the LORD: but a just weight [is]
his delight.
1. Deceptive, unjust scales are abhorred by the
Lord. To manipulate scales for personal gain is not only stealing, but it is
stealing under the guise of honesty. It
is giving the illusion of fair treatment while, in actuality, taking abusing
those who are trusting, defenseless and naïve.
2. Scales that are fair and lawful meet with His
approval and causes Him pleasure. Using
just weights are dealing with others fairly while rejecting hypocrisy and fraud.
“Thou shalt not have in thy
bag divers weights, a great and a small. Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. [But] thou shalt have a
perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy
days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. For all that do such
things, [and] all that do unrighteously, [are] an abomination unto the LORD thy
God.” (Deuteronomy 25:13-16)
2) [When] pride cometh, then
cometh shame: but with the lowly [is]
wisdom.
1. Defrauding the innocent is a display of
arrogance, believing that retribution can be escaped. This type of attitude assures that eventual
humiliation and justice will take place.
2. Those who are humble, realizing that deception
and abuse will be punished, will wisely choose to treat others honestly through
the use just weights and measures.
“I tell you, this man went
down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that
exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be
exalted.” (Luke 18:14)
3) The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness
of transgressors shall destroy them.
1. The innocent simplicity of the lawful will
lead them to honesty in all their dealings with others.
2. The
twisted, complex, viciousness of lawbreakers will turn against, dominate, and impoverish
them. All of their attempts to enrich
themselves through deceit will result in their eventual ruin.
“[A Psalm] of David. Judge
me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the
LORD; [therefore] I shall not slide.” (Psalms 26:1)
4) Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth
from death.
1. Wealth which is taken unjustly can bring
temporal comfort to the deceiver, but will not be of benefit in the appointed
time of repayment.
2. Just as the righteousness of Christ delivers
from eternal death, so too, our acts of honesty and justice snatches away the temporal evils that
come upon the deceptive.
“Be not over much wicked,
neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?” (Ecclesiastes 7:17)
“For bodily exercise
profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise
of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8)
SUMMARY:
For
those who are wise in Christ… Treating others with love, honesty and humility
will not only display wisdom to those around us but also reap both temporal and
eternal blessings.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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