Practicing Righteousness (Proverbs 10-11)

“Little children, let no one deceive you. 
He who practices righteousness is righteous, 
just as He is righteous.” (1 John 3:7 NKJV)

Truths About The Righteous Found In Proverbs 10 & 11:

WE SPEAK ONLY GOOD WORDS:

• “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.” (10:11)
• “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little.” (10:20)
• “The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.” (10:21)
• “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out.” (10:31)
• “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.” (10:32)

~ Read and consider Ephesians 4:29-32, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Romans 12:9-21, and 13:9-10

WE SEEK ONLY GOOD FOR OTHERS:

• “The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.” (11:23)

~ Read and meditate on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Galatians 6:1-3; 7-10, and Matthew 5:43-48

 

WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO SEEK & SERVE GOD:

• “Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.” (11:21)

~ Posterity means ‘future generations.’ Consider the battle in Joshua 9-11, also see Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 4:9, and 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-17

 

WE TEACH OTHERS TO SEEK & SERVE GOD:

• “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” (11:30)

~ Read and think about Matthew 28:18-20, John 6:68-69 (how can we keep it to ourselves when we know this?), and James 5:19-20,

 

GOD'S WORD HELPS US MAKE PROPER CHOICES:

• “The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, but the wicked will fall from his own wickedness.” (11:5)

~ Read and consider Proverbs 3:5-6, and Hebrews 5:12-14

 

GOD WILL NOURISH US:

• “The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked.” (10:3)

~ Read and meditate on Matthew 5:6 and Isaiah 55:1-3

 

GOD WILL BLESS US:

• “Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.” (10:6)
• “The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not inhabit the earth.” (10:30)
• “If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.” (11:31)

~ Recompensed means “rewarded.” Consider Matthew 5:5, Psalm 37:11, and Hebrews 11:6

 

GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS:

• “The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted.” (10:24)

~ Read and think about James 1:5, Matthew 7:7-8, John 15:7-8, and James 5:16-18

 

GOD HELPS US IN OUR TROUBLES:

• “The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.” (11:6)
• “The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead.” (11:8)

~ Consider Haman’s actions and his demise in the book of Esther – see Esther 5:9-14 and 7:1-10, also Psalm 34

THE BENEFITS OF PURSUING RIGHTEOUSNESS:

• “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.” (11:28)

~ Read and consider Psalm 1:1-3, Jeremiah 17:7-8, 1 Timothy 6:5-10; 17-19, Matthew 6:19-21, and Ephesians 1:3-14

 

WE HAVE A CONFIDENT HOPE:

• “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.” (10:2)
• “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” (11:4)
• “The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.” (10:28)
• “The labour of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.” (10:16)
• “The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.” (11:18)
• “As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.” (11:19)

~ Read and think on Romans 8:12-17 and 1 Peter 1:3-9

 

WE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR GOOD:

• “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.” (10:7)

~ Read and consider those noted in Hebrews 11, the woman in Mark 14:3-9, and Dorcas in Acts 9:36-42

Do you want to be a benefit to others? Share your confident hope in God with others? Do you want to be blessed, nourished, helped, and heard by God? Do you want to make good choices and be remembered for doing good? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)!! It is worth every effort and every sacrifice!

You can do it! So can I!!