The Bible says in Proverbs 11:15, He that is
surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth
suretiship is sure. The word surety
refers to making a pledge or entering into an agreement with someone. Be
careful about people. There are false believers. There are many people in the
world who do not know Jesus as Savior. You should not enter into a binding or
important agreement with someone until you know who they really are.
Shakespeare said something very similar to this. He said in Hamlet, Do not
dull thy palm with entertainment with each new-hatched unfledged comrade.
The Bible says in Proverbs 11:16, A gracious
woman retaineth honour: and
strong men retain riches. Women can be sensitive to things that men are not aware
of, but they should not let that make them to become anxious. They feel pain
perhaps more than others, but that should not result that they become mean or
angry. There is a right way to act, and a Christian woman should have a giving
and gracious nature: kind, loving, and gentle.
A statement is made about men in the
last part of verse 16 that has a very practical application. Often we think of
a strong man by the size of his muscles, but this verse speaks of strength in
regards to the ability to hold onto wealth. If a person who is weak in regards
to their knowledge of material things should come into a lot of money, they
will easily lose that money. Money can go through their hands like water
through the fingers. We need wisdom form God in every aspect of life.
The Bible says in Proverbs 11:17, The merciful
man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth
his own flesh. It is very important to be a merciful person. Mercy is
when you do not give people what they deserve. We all need mercy because we are
all sinners. Christians should also be merciful because we have received mercy
from Jesus Christ. What kind of person would benefit from mercy and then not
show it to others: a very ungrateful person. Mercy does not only help the
person who receives mercy, but it also helps the one who is merciful. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul. If you are not merciful, then you will be bitter and
cruel, and the stress and tension in your own heart will harm you. That is why
it says in the second part of verse 17, but
he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
The Bible says in Proverbs 11:18, The wicked
worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure
reward. The first half of this verse talks about the result of
the work of wicked people. The word that is translated deceitful means false
and lying. The work of the wicked is a false work and a lying work. Look at the
work of the people in Hollywood. They work, but their work is made up of lies.
They encourage certain activities that are immoral and they lie. Their work is
a lie. Look at the work of many politicians. Their work is to speak in order to
try and get elected, but their words are lies and so their work is a lie. Think
about the work of many college professors and other teachers. They lie about
evolution calling it science even though God created the heaven and the earth.
They lie about socialism, ignoring how it has destroyed the economies of every
nation that has used socialism. They lie about Christianity, ignoring the
greatness of the Bible and the truth of the existence of Christ. Their work is
a lie and a whole generation of young adults who have been brain-washed into
becoming secular, socialist lemmings with no moral standards.
But God knows the works of those who
serve Him. It says at the end of verse 18, to him that soweth righteousness
shall be a sure reward. We who serve Jesus look past this life to the judgment.
We are saved by grace through faith, not of works. Not by works of
righteousness, but according to His mercy He saved us. But we do work for the
Lord, knowing that He will reward us when we see Him. It does not matter what
other people say. It matters what the Lord says, and what the Lord will say at
the judgment when Christians are judged to see what rewards they will be given
as they enter heaven.
The Bible says in Proverbs 11:19, As
righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his
own death. This statement has been made several times already in the
book of Proverbs. It is worth repeating because the world constantly puts out
the opposite message. The world in the form of Hollywood propaganda, the main
stream media, and many professors at universities encourage a godless lifestyle
as if that will lead to happiness. But those who are on the path of evil are on
a path that will lead to the death of their soul. They will die forever in
hell. Sad that they choose such a fate, when the love of God calls them to turn
to Jesus before it is too late.
The Bible says in Proverbs 11:20, They that
are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD:
but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
The problem is in the heart. People need to have a change of heart. People need
to ask Jesus to come into their heart. Once people believe in Jesus in their
heart, then they are changed. But until that happens, they have a forward
heart, a heart that is against God. The Lord loves those who believe in Him and
follow Him. He always has room for more. Anyone who wants to change and turn to
Jesus is more than welcome.
The Bible says in Proverbs 11:21, Though hand
join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous
shall be delivered. The wicked do join hand-in-hand. Their greatest unity is
based upon their wickedness. They are against Christ and against the Bible.
That is why leftists and radical muslims are united
against a Christian America. Even though this godless union leads them all the
way to world domination as described in the book of Revelation, they shall not be unpunished.
The Great Tribulation only lasts seven years, and then shall Christ come. Jesus
will not come as the first time: lowly, and riding upon a donkey. Revelation
19:11-21 says, And I saw heaven opened, and
behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True,
and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.[12] His eyes were as a
flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written,
that no man knew, but he himself.[13] And he was clothed with a vesture
dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.[14] And the
armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine
linen, white and clean.[15] And out of his mouth goeth
a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them
with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of
the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.[16] And he hath on his vesture
and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.[17]
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying
to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves
together unto the supper of the great God;[18] That ye may eat the flesh
of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh
of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free
and bond, both small and great.[19] And I saw the beast, and the kings
of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that
sat on the horse, and against his army.[20] And the beast was taken, and
with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he
deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped
his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with
brimstone.[21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that
sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the
fowls were filled with their flesh.
The last part of Proverbs 11:21 says,
the
seed of the righteous shall be delivered. Who are the seed of the righteous?
If we look at the spiritual meaning to this, then the seed of the righteous are
those who come to know Jesus as Savior after hearing the Word of Truth from
other believers. Once you are righteous in Gods eyes because you have the
righteousness of Christ accounted to you, then you will be delivered. You will
be saved and taken to heaven to live forever with Jesus and the rest of the righteous.
The Bible says in Proverbs 11:22, As a jewel
of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
This is a verse that addresses an issue that the world has backwards. There is
nothing wrong with a woman making herself as attractive as she can within the
limits of a sense of common decency, Of course, that issue is for each woman to
decide between herself and the Lord: that is not for anyone else to look at her
attire and decide. What is really important is the type of person that she is.
Of course, women are beautiful. God made them that way so that they would
attract their husband or their husband to be, and so that the world would be
populated. Seeing there are 8 billion people in the world, it appears that Gods
design has worked very well. But women do need discretion in their choices.
Discretion means good taste. The same Biblical principle is stated with more
detail to Christian women in First Peter 3:1-7, Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if
any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the
conversation of the wives;[2] While they behold your chaste conversation
coupled with fear.[3] Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning
of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;[4]
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of
great price.[5] For after this manner in the old time the holy women
also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their
own husbands:[6] Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose
daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any
amazement.[7] Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to
knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the
weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your
prayers be not hindered.
The Bible says in Proverbs 11:23, The desire
of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
The desire of the righteous is only good. When a person gets saved, they turn to the Lord Jesus
with the purpose of following Him. In other words they not only want to be
forgiven of their sins, but they also want to start doing what is right. That
is true repentance. This desire for what is good and right is the work of the
Holy Spirit. And that is why Christians are such a good influence in any
country. The true Christians are always trying to make things better: to do a
better job and to do the right thing. Contrast that to the wicked. The wicked
do not desire what is right, and that does not work out well for them because
God is in charge of the affairs of men and God is a holy Judge who will punish
sin. If you have not done so, turn to Jesus and find mercy while there is time.
Those who do not experience His mercy will experience His wrath.
The Bible says in Proverbs 11:24, There is he
that scattereth, and yet increaseth;
there that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. This is a verse on the importance
of being a giver. God is a giver. It says in John 3:16 that God so loved the
world that He gave. It says about Jesus that He ascended unto heaven and gave
gifts unto men, and Christians are told, Thanks be to God for His unspeakable
gift. Do not become selfish and stingy. If God gives you more than
you need, then He is giving you the opportunity to accomplish something with
your substance. You can give to help spread the gospel, and you can give to
recompense a preacher for teaching you something that is more important than
money: spiritual truth. You can also give to help someone in need. Rewards will
be given in heaven for those who knew how to use their substance properly.
Jesus said, And whosoever shall give to drink one of these little ones a cup
of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall
in no wise lose his reward.
___________________________________________________
Copyright; 2017 by Charles
F. (Rick) Creech
All Rights Reserved