The Righteous and the Upright

Jesus and the Just Reign of God
God Sends Jesus
How to Live as God's People

Proverbs 11:3-11

The Message

³ The integrity of the honest keeps them on track;
    the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.

⁴ A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart,
    but a principled life can stand up to the worst.

⁵ Moral character makes for smooth traveling;
    an evil life is a hard life.

⁶ Good character is the best insurance;
    crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.

⁷ When the wicked die, that’s it—
    the story’s over, end of hope.

⁸ A good person is saved from much trouble;
    a bad person runs straight into it.

⁹ The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction;
    the common sense of the godly preserves them.

¹⁰ When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers;
    when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.

¹¹ When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes;
    evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.

For Reflection

Think on these terms: integrity, principled, moral, good person, godly common sense.  Who do you picture in your mind's eye?  What does this person look like?  Where does he or she live? What are this person's favorite books, films, musicians, artists?  Is this person humble?  Is this person compassionate?  Does this person applaud and seek justice?  Can you find this person in a mirror? 

Pray

that you find deeply embedded in you the righteous, upright person God wants you to be.  Pray for the wisdom to follow the way as exemplified in the Christ event.