Proverbs in 31 DaysSample

In continuing with the book of wisdom, Proverbs 24 contrasts the wise person from the foolish and evil person. Believers of God are warned not to envy the wicked, but rather to find treasure in attaining Godly wisdom. There is profound strength that comes through relying on God’s knowledge rather than our own, and it is truly only God who has wisdom to offer us. Everybody has a flawed understanding of what is truth because of this broken world, as well as our own sin, which clouds our perspective. Thankfully, God graciously grants not only the gift of His wisdom to those who seek it, but more so, He grants salvation to those who admit their sin and accept Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection as the payment for their sins. This Gospel is the beginning of a relationship with the Creator of everything, and it is He who holds all wisdom.

After instructing us about our relationship with the Lord, the author transitions to our relationships with others. Verses 11-12 are central to this chapter, and invite us to look more closely at how God functions as well as how He calls those of us who are believers to function. While we are called to flee evil and pursue godliness, we are not called to cast aside those who do not know Christ. If given the opportunity, followers of Christ should seek deliverance for the lost out of sincere love for them. God has taken extraordinary measures to free the lost in the Old Testament (Exodus 14:10-22), New Testament (Luke 23:34), and in the lives of believers currently. Although we cannot save the lost (that is solely God’s role), we do get to share the deliverance and freedom that is available for all through Christ Jesus with those who are lost!

In this world, it can be tempting to turn a blind eye to those who do not know Christ. We can seek the path that is most comfortable, and sometimes withdraw from nonbelievers altogether. Yet this passivity does not acknowledge that God has created, knows, and values every heart. God created us to live in community with believers (Romans 12:4-5), and also commands us to spread the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). It is prideful to disregard those who don’t know Christ because the same grace that abounds for every believer is loving, powerful, and intimate enough to extend to every unbeliever as well.

Christians are invited to be part of the rescue team that loves the lost. We are not to partake in evil, withdraw from the lost, or rejoice in anyone else’s suffering. We love others because Christ first loved us (1 John 4:19), and that is wisdom in action. Jesus has secured an eternal victory that is open to all who believe in Him, and will be the perfect Judge of who are the wise and who are the foolish. Christ followers can desire evil to be convicted and rebuked while on Earth, but can also ultimately trust in God’s sovereignty and justice for the world. When we press into this trust, it stirs our hearts to rely on the Lord’s strength. This strength is what sustains us so that we do not become apathetic or bitter towards those that don’t know Christ, but rather engage in the fight for their deliverance and freedom.