Proverbs 11:18-20, Sow Holiness – Reap Heaven

May 16, Proverbs 11:18-20

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 “Perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1).

Sow Holiness – Reap Heaven

“Righteous men believe themselves to be sinners, and sinners believe themselves to be righteous” (Pascal). The late Dr. (?) did not satisfy, by his preaching, the Calvinistic portion of his flock. “Why, sir,” said they, “we think you dinna tell us enough about renouncing our ain righteousness.” “Renouncing your ain righteousness!” vociferated the doctor. “I never saw any ye had to renounce.”

1. Deception or Dividend: There is a play on the sounds of the words deceit (sheqer) and reward (seker). It is a pun (always serious in Hebrew) that is difficult to duplicate in English. You are sowing every day, whether you know it or not (v.18). The only question is, What are you sowing, wheat, or tares? The word work can also mean wages earned by work. Here it is the work of lies, all vain gain! Satan is the arch-deceiver, paying with counterfeit coin (Matt. 4:8-9). Proverbs has stressed that sin is a fatal deceit, a deception. It is building on sand, or a house of cards. To sow righteousness, by life as well as lip, by spirit as well as by word, is to build on the Rock that never rolls. It is as sure as Eternal Truth, with dividends here and hereafter (Rev. 22:12).

2. Deliverance or Destruction: Righteousness and wickedness again stand in opposition; the issues are life or death (v.19; Rom. 6:20-23). The little word as (ken) is like Verily on the lips of Jesus. In Modern Hebrew it means Yes! Yes, verily, righteousness means life that tends to life and ends in life eternal. The wicked live life that tends to death and ends in death eternal. The man who pursues evil may very well overtake it, but when he does it leads to his own destruction. It is like taking a venomous snake into one’s bosom. Genuine righteousness, the seed, brings true happiness, the harvest. To pursue evil, as all who are outside Christ do, can only produce more evil, and this in turn is self-death. The one leads to deliverance, the other to destruction. Hell is truth seen too late!

3. Disgust or Delight: This is another familiar theme. God hates hypocrisy and deception (v.20). The word abomination is associated with idolatry, intermarriages with idolaters and even sacrificing their children to appease their idols. How God abhors these things (Isa. 65:3-7)! Disgust is hardly strong enough to express it adequately. The froward are twisted, perverted, while pretending justice, they are all the while intending wrong. It is essentially a battle of whose will shall stand, man’s or God’s (Ex. 5:2, 9:17; Jer. 44:16,18). The upright (complete, wholesome, healthy) are true in contrast to the twisted. Like the righteous, they too have been made so by God’s redeeming grace. They now want to act sincerely and honestly, and be pleasing to God, in whom He also delights, for holy hearts make holy tongues. So in love is Christ with holiness that He bought it for His elect with His own precious blood, and He says, Be holy, for I am holy. This is the great fundamental law of Christianity. Dear Friend, having prayerfully read thus far, have you settled your eternal destiny? What are you sowing, wheat, or tares?

Thought: “Christ brings the heart to Heaven first, and then the person” (R. Barter).

Prayer: More holiness give me,… more sorrow for sin.