Proverbs 3.29-30
“Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.”
Our society is increasingly contentious and hostile. People — and groups of people — are quick to react with anger toward others, and to “plan evil” toward adversaries. As I am writing this, there is mounting evidence that a ruling political party in the U.S. used the powers of the Dept of Justice and Intelligence community in an attempt to derail the presidential campaign of the candidate from the opposing party.
This is “planning evil against your neighbor” at the level of government and politics. This is not a new thing. It has happened throughout history: Politicians using their position and power not for serving the people, but for protecting their position and power. Sadly, the nefarious plotting and planning in the halls of power is a pattern in human history.
Though not as evident or public, when people in a company or organization or church spread gossip in an attempt to undermine the reputation of others, it is also a form of “planning evil against your neighbor.” It is palace intrigue. It is wrong.
Solomon states the obvious: Don’t be contentious. Don’t plot against others.
Proverbs 3.31-32
“Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.”
There are people in the world who use violence as a strategy to get what they want. Organized crime uses violence; gangs use violence; the “antifa” movement uses violence. There are men who perpetrate violence against women. There are parents who perpetrate violence against their children. Bullies on school campuses use violence to make fun of other kids, and the bullying extends to social media.
Not all violence is physical. It can also be verbal and emotional.
Solomon admonishes us: Stay away from people of violence in all its forms. He warns us that people of violence are also devious: they deceive and lie. Have nothing to do with those people, have nothing to do with what they do and how they do it. They are deceptive and dangerous.
The practical action step here is to be careful not to give in to your impulses. Everyone has impulses to speak-out or strike-out against people who frustrate you or make you angry. If you are a follower of Jesus, when you feel the impulse … press pause, be clear about God’s standards, get your mind right, and respond in obedience.
James 1.19-20 says it this way: “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
Proverbs 3.33-35
“The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.”
Once again, we are told that the Lord’s blessing is on the obedient, and his curse is on the wicked. God gives grace to the humble, but he opposes the arrogant and hard-hearted.
The linkage here is that violence comes from arrogance. This is true whether the violence is physical, emotional, or verbal. Violent people are arrogant people, and the authority for what they say and do is how they feel. They do not submit their emotions or actions to the Lord.
People who trust God and pursue wisdom are humble; they submit their emotions and actions to the Lord and his standards. They still feel the impulses, but they follow their faith not their feeling.
In time, those who are wise and follow the Lord will inherit honor and the blessings of the kingdom. Those who are foolish and refuse to follow God will experience disgrace.
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” (James 4:6)
