Ever hear a child say “that’s not right”! Usually they are referring to some bad behavior of a brother or sister who is doing what mom and dad said not to do. How do we know what is right? We have nature, a God-given conscience, each other to instruct us, the example of Jesus life, and God’s Holy Word. In other words, we have all we need to live this life in a godly (righteous) way. When we do, we find great rewards. But, sin and selfishness are powerful adversaries working within us and around us. In a second collection of Proverbs, Solomon again enumerates the rewards of righteousness and contrasts them with the way of the wicked in Proverbs 11, NIV.
The integrity of the upright guides them v3. Righteousness delivers from death v4. The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight v5. The righteousness of the upright delivers them v6. The righteous person is rescued from trouble v8. Through knowledge the righteous escape v9. When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices v10. Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted v11. Those who are righteous will go free v21. The desire of the righteous ends only in good v23. the righteous will thrive like a green leaf v28. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life v30. The righteous receive their due on earth v31.
How grateful am I for God’s provision for the righteous? How has He delivered me from trouble, given me good, caused me to prosper and thrive?
God, as this day begins- I am saying thank you for Your goodness. As I strive to walk in righteousness, I ask for Your wisdom and insight and energy. I am amazed at how You reward here and now, not just then and there. Truly ‘righteousness is its own reward’!
