(Prov 21:18 GNB) The wicked bring on themselves the suffering they try to cause good people.
This morning we finally get back to our series entitled “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” It’s been a while and I am excited about getting back to it. Proverbs is a power-packed book and I know the messages we will receive from its pages will be a blessing TO me, and then [prayerfully] THROUGH me. Let’s pickup where we left off.
Here Solomon teaches us something that I have reiterated many times on Today’s Word, and that is the fact that we will all reap whatever we sow. More specifically, Solomon highlights the fact that those who attempt to come up against us will actually wind up reaping a negative harvest from the bad seeds they attempting to sow in our lives. Isaiah said, “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper” (Isa 54:17). While we can find peace in knowing that the weapons formed against us will not prosper, it does not mean that they will not be formed. In other words, we do have an enemy and he will do whatever he can to come up against us. Satan and his demons work through people daily and I would venture to say that most of the people he uses are completely unaware that they are being influenced. But whether they know it or not, bad seeds always produce bad harvests and the attacks they bring against the righteous have a funny way of backfiring on them. The Message Bible paraphrase of this verse is awesome, it reads: “What a bad person plots against the good, boomerangs; the plotter gets it in the end.” Paul said, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant” (Gal 6:7)
A couple of examples of this ‘boomerang efect’ are the stories of Haman and Mordecai and Daniel and his accusers. Haman came up against Mordecai and he wanted to see Mordecai hang to death. Without getting into the entire story, let me just simply tell you that the Bible says: “So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai” (see Esther 7:9-10 RSV). Likewise, Daniel had his fare share of “haters” and his accusers wanted to see him thrown in the lion’s den. Well, guess what? Daniel was thrown in the lion’s den, but the Lord saw to it that the lion’s did not eat Daniel and as soon as Daniel got out of the lion’s den, the Bible says: “Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den” (see Daniel 6:24).
The point I want to highlight this morning is the fact that the enemy’s poison can’t stop your purpose. And if that is true (and it is), then why not be the bigger person and pray for them? Jesus said, “When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person” (Luke 6:28). If the other person knew any better they would leave you alone, but since they don’t you should realize that they are deceived. Jesus interceded for his accusers and so should we. Because if we don’t, we already know what is going to happen to them – they are GOING TO reap what they are sowing.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that praying for those who give you a hard time is a symbol of Christian maturity. Are you there yet? Can you earnestly pray for those that curse you? Can you sincerely invoke blessings upon those that mistreat you? If you can, then you are operating in the love of God, a love that looks beyond the outward actions of people and sees the need in the person.
Closing Confession: Father, I declare, by faith, that Your love is operating in me so strong that I am able to pray for those who give me a hard time and pronounce blessings upon those who mistreat me. Your love in me empowers me to remain constant and consistent as light in the midst of darkness and as love in the midst of selfishness. I can do it! I can be the bigger person. I know their poison can’t stop my purpose anyway, so why not pray for them? I look beyond the hatred they are operating in and I see a person that needs help. I stand in the gap for them and I earnestly ask You to manifest Your glory and Your goodness in their lives. By doing so I am walking in love and I am becoming more and more like You! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
