(Prov 24:8,9 GNB) If you are always planning evil, you will earn a reputation as a troublemaker. Any scheme a fool thinks up is sinful. People hate a person who has nothing but scorn for others.
This morning we continue our series, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” This is the 24th Saying: Descriptions of the Evils of Folly. Solomon has already warned us against associating with the wrong people. Too much exposure to evil will poison your soul, and the people Solomon describes here are unquestionably evil. Even worse than doing evil, these people devise it. They spend good time on bad thoughts, plots, and schemes. The Message Bible paraphrase of this verse reads: “The person who’s always cooking up some evil soon gets a reputation as prince of rogues. Fools incubate sin; cynics desecrate beauty.” The word that sticks out there for me is “incubate.” These people harbor, nurture, feed, and grow sin. They get some sort of twisted pleasure in disrupting the lives of others and it does not bother them at all that they have a reputation for evil.
So what does this mean to you today? I don’t see much utility in focusing on the negative aspects of what Solomon describes so I will flip-it around and seek to glean some things from doing the opposite of their actions.
1. Protect your reputation. I just had a conversation about this at work. Working in the Pentagon can be challenging. Maneuvering through the politics of today’s workplace requires wisdom and prayer. A few misplayed steps can ruin a person’s reputation. As a believer, a good reputation is required to be a good witness, so we must protect that reputation by always seeking to do what is right, because it’s right, and then doing it right. Back in chapter 22 Solomon said, “A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold” (v.1). My mother personifies this verse. To this day her name is worth more than silver and gold. My prayer is that you and I maintain a good name, because a good name can be an avenue for favor and favor can do more in a moment than labor can do in a lifetime.
2. Focus your mind on Godly and positive things. Instead of incubating sin, why not spend your time incubating Godly thoughts? Paul said, “You’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse” (Phil 4:8). Don’t waste good time on bad thoughts. Spend your time thinking about things that will build up, not tear down, that will be a blessing, and not a curse.
3. Make every attempt to be a blessing to others. Instead of focusing on ways to disrupt, disturb, and destroy others, spend your time being a blessing. The reason you need to focus on Godly and positive things is because your thoughts produce your actions. So if you think on the right things, you will wind up acting in ways that are pleasing to God. Listen, the people you deal with every day may never go to your church, but they will surely observe your actions. What message is your life portraying? Is it saying, God loves you? If not, it’s time to make some changes.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for blessing me to learn from the unrighteous what NOT to do. I protect my reputation, because I know that my good name is part of my witness. I want to represent You well in all that I do. So I take control of my thought life, I focus on things that are Godly and positive, and my Godly thoughts will produce Godly actions; things that will bring glory and honor to Your name. I refuse to spend my time devising evil schemes. Instead, I spend my time looking for ways to BE a blessing to others. I love You and my love for Your is personified in my love for others. I refuse to be a hypocrite who claims to love you, but then hate others. I love You with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength and I love others with that same love! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
