Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: Being a Good Neighbor, Proverbs 14:21-25
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Proverbs 14:21–25
[21] Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
[22] Do they not go astray who devise evil?
Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.
[23] In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
[24] The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
[25] A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful. (ESV)
Proverbs of Being a Good Neighbor
Short, simple, but very valuable proverbs today.
v.21 This proverb contrasts hatred toward one's neighbor with the Christian love that should seek to serve his neighbor. God disapproves of the person who ignores the temporal needs of his neighbor. It encourages us to do acts of kindness by declaring God's pronouncement of blessedness to those who believe this and do His will: blessings now and in the world to come.
v.22 This verse builds on the previous, expanding on the attitude of those who hate their neighbor to the sinner's action of internal scheming, telling us their actions lead them astray. It contrasts this with the good intentions of those who fear the Lord. They find mercy and truth – the blessing of v.21. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy" (Matthew 5:7).
v.23 A brief proverb of common sense that isn’t so common: We are to be more afraid of idle chatter whose words may inadvertently cause harm when we speak before we think, rather than an honest day’s work which is of benefit to all.
v.24 Wisdom is its own reward, benefiting the Wise and the neighbors he serves. Stupidity and foolishness have no reward.
v.25 "A truthful witness saves lives" either by sparing someone falsely accused or protecting society from a wrongdoer, whom his testimony helps condemn. On the other hand, a liar whose lies flow as easily as his breath (see 14:5) deceives others and thwarts justice, endangering many, especially the vulnerable.