Proverbs 28:1-26
V1: "The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions."
The Godly are made to reflect God. We serve a God that has no fear in Him, but instead, boasts of His righteous boldness. When we are in Him, we have no reason to be afraid or to run or hide. We have a boldness like lions do, and if we remain steadfast in that Godly confidence, we will never fall short.
V4: "To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them."
Laws are in place not so much to hinder us from doing what may seem fun, but to keep us safe and set up boundaries. To reject any law, especially God's Law is nothing short of foolishness. Wisdom pushes us to do what is right and simply obey.
V6: "Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich."
As simple as this verse is, it contains a concept that can be very hard for us to fully grasp. We, as people, oftentimes have a drive to chase after riches and wealth. The truth is that being rich isn't what is most important in life. In fact, this verse says it best: it is better to be totally and completely poor but honest than it is to have an overflow of riches and be a dishonest person. We need to stop chasing after the wrong things. Money and wealth are not where it is all at. Instead, if we are intentional in striving to be honest people, then we can rest assured and know that we are in the right place.
V9: "God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law."
People often like to use God as a vending machine: you know that He can give you what you want when you need it, so as soon as life throws any inconvenience your way, you go to Him. That is not at all the way we should be approaching His presence. It is all about where our hearts are situated when we go to Him. If we are ignorant of His law, the Bible says that the Lord detests our prayers. If we are walking out lives of obedience and righteousness, we then have nothing to fear.
V13: "People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy."
A big part of forgiveness is repentance. Being able to admit when you have done something wrong and then ask for forgiveness for it shows a person whose heart is in the right place. It is the ones who try and cover up any wrongdoings they have done and refuse to repent that will stay stuck and not prosper. There's a freedom that comes with repentance for falling short: that freedom is forgiveness.
V14: "Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble."
The people sensitive to the things of the Holy Spirit have a sense that leads them away from whatever is wrong, almost like a healthy and respectable fear to do what is right and not displease God. A stubborn person ignores those nudges from the Spirit and heads towards trouble.
VS 20, 22-23, 25-26: "The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble... Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty. In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery. Greed causes fighting; trusting the Lord leads to prosperity. Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe."
Doing things with honesty and integrity reaps a reward that dishonesty and trickery could never bring. The Bible says that a trustworthy person will gain a reward of riches. A person who does not want to do things the honest and right way is headed down the path of trouble. After all, it is better to chase after honesty and then have the Lord bless you than to chase after doing things the wrong way and then gain nothing but problems.
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