Posted by Jeff Short on March 17, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
– Proverbs 11:25
This proverb is a simpler statement speaking of the reward to those who give generously. The
liberal soul is a gift giver. Fatness is a symbol of prosperity and plenty. Water is an obvious blessing to the thirsty. These good things shall come to the generous giver. The point of the proverb is that he does his own self good by doing good to others (Proverbs 11:17).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on March 16, 2017 · Leave a Comment
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
– Proverbs 11:24
This proverb and the next two deal with generous giving and its reward. This first proverb reveals God’s counterintuitive economy. The one who scatters is the one who gives generously with an open hand. It would seem that generous giving would diminish and reduce a person to poverty. Yet, wisdom teaches the contrary that it increases a person. He that withholds is stingy, greedy, and grasping. They cannot and will not give because they believe it will lead them to poverty. Yet, wisdom teaches that is exactly what happens to those who withhold.
The few proverbs here don’t give a full explanation of the rewards for giving, but we can fill out that picture from the rest of Scripture. Some have erred badly here by supposing they have found some secret to growing rich on this earth. Prosperity preachers grow rich by selling this erroneous notion to eager coveters. God does reward generous giving (Deuteronomy 15:10-11; Psalm 112:9; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9). The few verses referenced sufficiently show that God’s reward of giving is not to make a person wealthy on this earth. He rewards giving by the giver having sufficient for his needs and to keep on giving. Unquestionably, some of those rewards are spiritual rewards and treasure laid up in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-20).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on March 15, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
– Proverbs 11:23
The words for
desire and
expectation are similar. They both describe a longing and in this verse they describe what the
righteous and the
wicked are seeking. The contrast is in the outcomes, or wisdom’s estimate of the objects of their respective pursuits.
Good is in the largest sense of good and
wrath is an overflowing fury and rage.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on March 14, 2017 · Leave a Comment
As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
– Proverbs 11:22
A nose
jewel, or ring as we would say, was one means of ornamenting beauty in the Bible. Putting such a
jewel on a pig’s nose does not enhance the appearance of the pig but rather draws more attention to the fact it is an unclean beast. It becomes more disgusting or downright comical as all recognize how out of place it is. A
fair woman is a beautiful woman. The word for
discretion means good taste or judgment. When a woman lacks sensible judgment, her physical beauty is then like the jewel put on the pig’s nose. She is a monstrosity. The outward appearance and ornamentation should agree with and adorn the inner wisdom (Proverbs 31:30; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-4).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on March 13, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
– Proverbs 11:21
The first phrase is uncertain and has been interpreted variously. Hand to hand could be an expression that denotes the surety of something to happen. The joining of hands could also refer to confederacy, in this case to do evil. The former seems the most probable in that the sureness of the wicked coming to punishment is emphasized. With this gloss, the surety of the statement also applies to the contrast that the seed of the righteous are surely to be delivered. So both statements are sure to come to pass. The Proverbs consistently presents the theme that the wicked will not ultimately prosper and the righteous shall be rewarded (Proverbs 28:13).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on March 12, 2017 · Leave a Comment
They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
– Proverbs 11:20
The word for
froward is common in the Proverbs and means twisted, or perverse. I like to think of it as bent, as in bending away from wisdom. A perverse or twisted
heart is abhorrent to God and the line suggests they invite his judgment upon them. By contrast, the
upright walk according to wisdom and are his
delight. Therefore, they invite his pleasure and blessing upon them (Psalm 18:25-26; 11:7; 140:13).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on March 11, 2017 · Leave a Comment
As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
– Proverbs 11:19
Wisdom is concerned with the long view and outcomes over time more than immediate circumstances. This proverb contrasts pursuing righteousness and evil. Pursuing righteousness results in life and pursuing evil in death. This is a continual wisdom theme throughout Proverbs (Proverbs 1:16-19; 8:36; 10:16; 11:4; 12:28; 13:21; 19:23).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on March 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
– Proverbs 11:18
The general tenor of Proverbs is that the gains of the
wicked, whatever they are, are not lasting. The
deceitful works of the
wicked are also often the means that bring them down (Proverbs 1:18; 5:22; 22:8). The contrast emphasizes the
reward, or wages, of sowing in
righteousness is sure. The word indicates firmness, stability, and reliability. Those who work in righteousness are assured of a reward.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on March 9, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
– Proverbs 11:17
The word for
merciful means kindness and also carries the thought of faithfulness. The word for
cruel means merciless. The two are contrasted as well as their effects. The point of the proverb is the effect attitudes and actions have on the person more than on others (Proverbs 15:27). By mercy, a man does
good to his own soul. Cruelty stirs up and disturbs a man’s own body.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
« Previous Page — Next Page »
Proverbs 11:25
Posted by Jeff Short on March 17, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
This proverb is a simpler statement speaking of the reward to those who give generously. The liberal soul is a gift giver. Fatness is a symbol of prosperity and plenty. Water is an obvious blessing to the thirsty. These good things shall come to the generous giver. The point of the proverb is that he does his own self good by doing good to others (Proverbs 11:17).– Proverbs 11:25
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Share this:
Filed under 11, Proverbs, Short Comments · Tagged with