Proverbs Chapter 11

Pro 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

The word abomination means extreme hatred or detestation. God hates cheating and dishonesty in business dealings. In earlier times scales of weight were made with two sides. You might put a one pound weight on one side and corn meal, flour or sugar on the other side. When the scales were even that was considered a pound. If someone was to make the weight false, lets say only weighing 14 ounces instead of a pound but yet still charge the customer for a pound, it would be cheating the customer. This God hates. We will not excel in business if we cheat. The word gets around if we are honest in dealing with people. If one earns the trust of their customers, they will return again and again.

Pro 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

If we are never lifted up in pride then of course, we would never have to be abased or brought low. If we already meek and lowly in heart, then we never have to fear being shamed or brought low.

Pro 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

The invisible law of reaping what one sows is in force here. Sin will steal, kill and destroy. If we cheat, we shall be cheated. If we are friendly, we will have friends.

Pro 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Here we see the final judgment of God when all our riches would count for nothing. If we are clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we are delivered from judgment and will inherit eternal life. We see also that right living or righteous living will cause us to live longer in this life also because sin and living responsively usually leads to an early death.
If one lives carelessly, drives recklessly, smokes, drinks and abuses his own body or lives in sexual pleasure with no restraint, he or she is asking to die prematurely.

Pro 11:5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

Again we see the law of reaping and sowing. We see that by right living we live in a way that prolongs life. There are always exceptions to this. There are things in life that come as trials, persecutions etc, that brings about an early death but for those things, we put our trust in the Lord and know that eternal life awaits those that believe in Jesus Christ and are covered by His righteousness. For the most part though, those that live righteously all their lives usually live much longer than those that do not. Wicked living will cause one to die younger by his or her own lifestyle.

Pro 11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

If we have ever seen the cartoon about the road runner and the coyote that tries to catch him, we see a picture of how the coyote always gets caught in his own traps. This is a picture of how the wicked will be ensnared by his own ways. The saying, "Be sure your sins will find you out," is a true saying.

That is why our merciful God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to us. He saw that sin was in the heart of each and every one of us. He saw that we needed help in order to escape the judgment for sin and enter eternal life. Sin separates us from God and causes natural death and spiritual death. God cannot allow sin in eternity. It has to be stopped. We cannot enter heaven and eternal life with sin in our hearts. Our soul does not die, only the body. The spirit and soul live on. It will enter either heaven or hell for eternity. Sin causes the soul to be lost. God sent Jesus to die and pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus didn't sin and didn't deserve to die for any sin that He committed Himself. This made Him a pure sacrifice to pay for our sins. The only way His sacrifice would count for us is if we believe this, repent of our sin and receive the spirit of God into our innermost beings. This saves the soul and makes us born again by the spirit of God.

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Pro 11:7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

If we die in wickedness without being saved from sin or without repenting of sin by believing in Jesus Christ, there is no other way to be saved. We perish.

Pro 11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

Since there is no one righteous, we need to trust in the one who is righteous and that is Jesus Christ. He is our righteousness. When we repent of sin and trust in Him, we are covered by His righteousness.

Pro 11:9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

One who is a hypocrite will be kind to one's face but be different behind one's back. This is worse than a person who will openly tell you the truth in person. It is better to be the same in a person's presence and when he is not around to hear our words.

Pro 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

I think deep down in all of our hearts we prefer those that are good than those that are evil.

Pro 11:11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

All we have to do is read our history books if we find any that have not been changed by political correctness that is, and we will see that departing from good will destroy any society. Wickedness comes to an end eventually.

Pro 11:12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

If we had the wisdom that comes from the Lord, we would never despise anyone. God's wisdom teaches us the uselessness of envy, hate and strife. When we truly understand His wisdom, we have peace and can hold back unkind words to our neighbors. We can see beyond what our natural eyes see and see our neighbor as God sees them. God sees them as souls that need His salvation.

Pro 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

This is hard for the natural man. The natural man loves to put others down and puff up one's self. This is a trait that we all are tempted with but we all should avoid. If we did as Jesus taught, and that is to love our neighbor as ourselves, we would avoid this temptation. We would not speak evil of someone we really love.

Pro 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

In a multitude of good counselors whose motive is for the good of all, there is safety. Selfish, self-centered advisors bring ruin.

Pro 11:15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

This is similar to co-signing for a loan. We may end up paying the loan ourselves and running the risk of bankruptcy. I've seen this happen.

Pro 11:16 A gracious woman retaineth honor: and strong men retain riches.

Pro 11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Mercy is a gift from God. He is merciful and when we are merciful, we are shown mercy. If we are slow to forgive and hold grudges, it will destroy our own ability to receive mercy from God. Forgive and it shall be forgiven you is the words of Jesus.

Pro 11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

Again we see right living succeeds where evil is brought down and judged. The only path to righteousness is to walk with God and the only way to God is Jesus Christ.

Pro 11:19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
Pro 11:20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

Froward is perverse or a reluctance to do what is required or what is right. It is being disobedient.

This law is in effect always. For instance. If we break the laws of the land in which we live, we are jailed, fined or punished by death or a long prison sentence.

If a child disobeys a parent, he or she is punished in some way.

In the laws of God. If we break His laws, we are punished eternally. If we repent and turn to His salvation through Jesus Christ who has already taken our punishment for us, we have eternal life. Sin brings death but Jesus took that death for us. We can now have eternal life if we are covered by His righteousness.

Pro 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

This is true and will always be true. Sin is coming to an end at the return of Jesus Christ.

Pro 11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

This is an excellent picture. A pig or swine holding a valuable jewel would not know what he possessed and it would be a waste. A beautiful women with no discretion is similar. All I can say is, "What a waste of beauty?"

Pro 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

True righteous people will never desire evil upon anyone.

Pro 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

Another warning against stinginess.

Pro 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Give and it shall be given to you.

Pro 11:26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

If one has abundance of crops and has a city full of people in need of those crops and he doesn't sell them, he would be hated by the citizens.

Pro 11:27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favor: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
Pro 11:28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Only trust in God brings righteousness. Riches can be stolen, lost, and are of no value when the end of our natural life in this world comes. If we trust in riches, we are trusting in something that is only temporary and has not power over our souls. Once our body dies, riches are left to someone else. It profits nothing. Our hope is in God and His righteousness.

Pro 11:29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

The wicked our even hated by their own relatives. They have no peace.

Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

To win one soul is worth more than all the riches of Microsoft. Just one. Think about it. If one soul is brought to Jesus Christ and receives eternal life, it is worth more than all the riches of this world.

Pro 11:31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

We reap what we sow.

PROVERBS 12