Proverbs 17:13-16 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 17:13-16, which read,

v.13 - He who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

This is a common theme in Scripture, evil for good.  It is a flipping over of the way it should be.  Later in the Scriptures, in the New Testament, Peter records in 1 Peter 3:8,9 something very similar.  "To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing."

This proverb bears out that if we make it a practice to return evil for good then a blessing will not come to your home but rather evil will not depart from it.  Another haunting verse that relates to this one is Romans 1:32 which says, "...and although they know the ordinances of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."  Lord help us for we are capable of returning evil for good and cheering on others to do the same.

v.14 - The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

Here is the little boy with his finger in the dike.  The force of the water behind the dam is so powerful and a little crack in the wall will bring it all coming down eventually.  Strife or contention that is not resolved properly with confession, repentance and forgiveness will soon be followed by other sins.  Whatever you are holding onto instead of resolving God's way will not end up good.  Therefore, abandon your way and adopted God's.

v.15 - He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

An abomination is something that is detestable and in this proverb as with many others it is something that is detestable to the Lord our God.  Those who make excuses and maybe even laws to allow wickedness to not only exist but to be a part of society as the norm and those who turn their energy to defeat the very ones who are following God's ways are not unseen by God.  

Do you have a standard for what is wicked and what is not?  For the Christian that is the Bible.  We need an outside of ourselves standard otherwise each will create our own and it will be selfish to us.  God's greatest commandments point us to loving Him and loving others, an outside other action, rather than something to please self and self alone and many times at any cost.

v.16 - Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, when he has no sense?

The fool will resort to thinking he or she can pay for wisdom.  This is a practice that is in full force today.  I can buy my way out of this situation or into it.  Wisdom is the fear of God, the awe and respect of who He is to follow after Him.  It did not come from us paying something to get it but rather He paying His own Son to die on the cross and rise again for us to have a desire for it.  

Here is another New Testament example of this proverb.  Acts 8:18-24 reads, Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostle's hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."  But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.  Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."  But Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

Maybe Peter had this proverb going through his mind when he came upon someone who was trying to "buy God."  It doesn't work that way and actually you are in deep trouble if you operate this way and encourage others to do the same.  We don't buy God but rather God has bought us and that puts Him in the driver's seat of our lives.  Let's pray.

"Lord, again we are faced with how we want to run the show.  We want to set the standards.  We want to do things our way.  These are all abominations to You.  The only 'we want' should be that we want what You want.  You will guide us in righteousness and You will guide us in words and ways that bring glory to You.  May we trust You today when we feel the flinch to do things our way.  Amen."

Pastor Adam