A Call to Excellence
  • Devotionals
  • About
  • Contact

Peacemakers

By Tim Kight on April 11, 2019

Proverbs 17.11
“An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.”

An evil person rejects and rebels against God’s standards, and invariably rebels against civic rulers, as well. Evil people hate authority. They resent being told what they can and cannot do, so they disobey and do what they want anyway. At some point, God will send a cruel messenger, and the rebellious will suffer the consequences of their disobedience.

Often the cruel messenger is simply the natural consequences of being arrogant and rebellious. One way or the other, evil people who resent authority will eventually be forced to submit. All rebellious uprisings will eventually be put down.

Proverbs 17.12
“Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.”

Fools are dangerous not only to themselves, but also to others. Wise people avoid them. To emphasize the danger of foolish people, Solomon uses the illustration of a mother bear robbed of her cubs. Despite the extreme danger of an angry mother bear, Solomon says “a fool in his folly” is even worse. The wisdom response is to recognize dangerous fools and avoid them.

Proverbs 17.13
“If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.”

Scripture says that it is wrong to repay evil for evil, but it is even worse to repay evil for good. Those who respond to good things with evil things demonstrate a cold, dark heart. The consequence for such hard-hearted behavior is perpetual trouble.

Keep in mind that “house” refers to more than a home and physical domicile. It also refers to a community of people, a church, an organization, a team, and even a society of people. When a culture enables — or allows — people to behave badly in response to goodness, then evil will find a home on that culture.

Proverbs 17.14
“The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.”

If an opening is made in an earthen dam or dike, flowing water does not stay a small stream, but quickly eats away at the opening and eventually rushes out in a flood of water. In the same way, a fight will grow quickly, if it is not ended at the very beginning.

Conflict exists, but the extent to which it escalates in dependent on the self-discipline of the people involved … or at least one of the people involved.

Proverbs says it this way: “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls” (Prov. 25:28). This is restraint of spirit, and whoever lacks control over his spirit is as good as ruined. Or to put it simply: Manage your emotions or your emotions will manage you. Emotion is intended to be your servant, not your master.

A wise person avoids the painful consequences of an escalated conflict by exercising self-control on the front end. If you continue to trade combative facial expressions, words, or blows, a small confrontation can quickly escalate into a major fight. A combative reaction can trigger more conflict, and both parties can foolishly flail at each other.

Trust God, do the work of a peacemaker.

Share
Tweet
Share
0 Shares

Topics: Proverbs

Share:

Share
Tweet
Share
0 Shares
  • Previous Devotional
  • Next Devotional

Subscribe to Daily Devotionals

Enter your email address below and get the daily devotional delivered to your inbox every weekday.

Recent Devotionals

True Confession, part 1

By Tim Kight on June 17, 2019

Proverbs 20.9“Who can say, ‘I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin?”

Continue Reading

Battlefield belief

By Tim Kight on July 19, 2018

“We are locked in a battle. This is not a friendly, gentlemen’s discussion. It is a life and death conflict…

Continue Reading

Riches do not profit

By Tim Kight on September 14, 2018

Proverbs 11.3, 5, 6“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them … The…

Continue Reading

About Tim Kight

Founder of Focus 3, Tim focuses on the critical factors that distinguish great organizations from average organizations. He delivers a powerful message on the mindset & skills at the heart of individual & organizational performance.

Learn More
Share
Tweet
Share
0 Shares

Footer

  • About Tim
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 a Call to Excellence. All rights reserved.