Proverbs 11

Often times the Bible shows us something that pertains to something that we have gone through or are going through. There was a time in my life when I “loved” what I would now describe a wicked man. (I say wicked, in that he didn’t know the Lord) There was pride, dishonesty and deceitfulness, many qualities listed in the proverb of what a wicked man will be. “The wicked will fall by their own wickedness.” As I think of all the ways I watched this man’s wickedness cause him to stumble and/or fall I am reminded of another man, quite the opposite kind of man, the man I now call my husband. I ran into this old boyfriend the other day and as I watched him shake hands with my husband I was given such a clear picture of the 2 ways a man can choose to walk…wicked or righteous. This was such a vivid picture again brought to my mind with today’s reading.
“The integrity of the righteous will guide them.” By God’s grace alone, my husband is like this verse, and I will forever strive to deserve him.
Random other things:
V13 I hope to never be a gossip. Sometimes I really have to ask myself why am I repeating something.
V14 is probably my favorite verse in the Bible. It was only when God showed me this verse and began to give me my “multitude of counselors “ that my life really began to change , grow and bear fruit. Women’s Bible Study changed my entire life. These wise counselors, women I still turn to, guided me through the most difficult time in my life, not letting me fall.
V16 I pray I will become a gracious woman. I can’t even imagine that being the way someone would describe me, but I strive for it to be.
V22 I love the imagery in these verses. I love what my commentary said: “The principle here is that generosity, by God’s blessing, secures increase, while stinginess leads to poverty instead of expected gain. The one who gives receives far more in return.”
V29-30 Lord please help me to manage my home in a way that is pleasing to you. Make me righteous so that I may bear life giving fruit. Make these desires of my heart on a continual basis.
V31 I loved my commentary on this one too: “God’s final blessing and reward to the “righteous,” and His judgment and punishment of the “ungodly and sinners” come after life on this earth has ended. But there are foretastes of both during life on the earth, as the righteous experience God’s personal care and goodness, while the wicked are void of it.”
Isn’t it amazing that we get little tastes of the blessings that await us in heaven?!