Wisdom: The Principle ThingSample

A Legacy of Consequence

One of the most foundational facts of life is that community is essential. We cannot survive - or even exist in the first place - without human interaction. As much as our individualistic society would prefer to deny it, people are always dependent on one another in some way; and because of this, it’s inevitable that the character, priorities, and choices of one person has an effect on someone else.

We tend to think of influence mostly in terms of the public sphere - the entertainment we consume or the officials we elect - and this is fair, on one hand, since there is much to be said about how important it is for people who find themselves in the spotlight to use their power to promote what is good. Verses 12, 14, and 16 of this chapter highlight that there is a sort of infectious nature to both righteousness and wickedness when either is wielded or demonstrated by powerful people: “If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked...If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever... When the wicked increase, transgression increases, but the righteous will look upon their downfall.”

You may have heard the phrase “no man is an island.” This is absolutely true in the sense demonstrated within Proverbs 29 as it calls us to remember the link of influence and legacy between human beings. We cannot live as though our actions and character have no bearing on the lives of others - for better or for worse. May we choose righteousness in the power of the Holy Spirit and watch humbly as He uses our life to edify the people He places in our path.