By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
COMPASSION DEMONSTRATED
Proverbs 3:21–35
Confidence Gained (21–26)
The Book of Proverbs teaches there are two roads in life: the road of foolishness and the road of wisdom. When God saves you, He delivers you from the road of foolishness and unrighteousness and sets you on the road of wisdom and righteousness.
Solomon exhorted his son to faithfully guard sound wisdom and discretion. Sound wisdom refers to good judgment that results in practical success in life. Discretion refers to competence to formulate and execute a wise course of action no matter what comes your way.
Never take your eyes off these God-given qualities.
Sound wisdom and discretion are indispensable for godly living. They will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.
In other words, these qualities will transform you internally and enhance your reputation as they lead to a fruitful life that glorifies God.
As you consistently acquire wisdom while you walk with God through life, the Lord will guide and guard you. This does not mean Christians will never face difficulty or danger. It does mean Christians are eternally secure in their relationship with God no matter what they face. You will be able to lie down and sleep knowing the Lord is watching over you. Neither will you need to fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked because the Lord is at your side.
Kindness Expressed (27–30)
God’s grace in the believer makes him or her more and more like Jesus through progressive sanctification. God will sanctify the person He has justified. As you are transformed to become more like Jesus, you will demonstrate compassion and express kindness. These verses teach that if you meet someone with a need, do everything you can do to meet that need quickly and with compassion. If your neighbor has a need and you can meet it, do not turn him away or delay in helping.
A person being transformed by God’s grace will not scheme to harm his neighbor. This proverb causes us to consider Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37, where He explained that the more important question is not who one’s neighbor is but rather what it means to act neighborly, showing kindness to anyone in need.
The person walking on the road of wisdom should not falsely accuse anyone. By God’s grace, do not be the kind of person who quarrels with people for no particular reason.
This proverb utilizes legal terminology and therefore relates to the judicial system of ancient Israel. This is not a prohibition against seeking justice for legitimate causes. This proverb directs an individual not to seek legal action when there is no just cause.
The ninth commandment (Ex. 20:16) states we are not to give false testimony against our neighbor. Jesus exhorted His disciples to go the second mile and demonstrate kindness even to their enemies (Matt. 5:38–48). God’s people are expected to treat others with kindness.
Blessing Secured (31–35)
In these proverbs, Solomon lays out attitudes and actions the people of God need to avoid. He admonishes believers not to be envious of violent people who gain their wealth by ungodly means. A selfish person does not demonstrate kindness and compassion toward others. If you align yourself with violent and deceitful people, you become repugnant to God. God detests those who are selfish and unkind toward others, but He is a friend to the upright.
Every human being is either on the road of wisdom or the road of foolishness. It is important to know which of the two roads you are journeying on because each road has its own destination.
The Lord blesses the home of the righteous, gives grace to the humble and grants favor to the wise. But He brings righteous judgment upon the wicked and the unwise.
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