God expected that the lives and behaviour of the people of Israel, and now our lives, as followers of Jesus, would showcase His life and message and values and desires.
In Pakistan we were often the only living examples to the many people we knew of what a believer and follower of Jesus looked like. It was an awesome responsible and regrettably we didn’t always do a great job. Part of the challenge was that many in Pakistan had the incorrect impression that all “Westerners” were “Christians” including those who indulged in very unbiblical behaviour. So, our lives hopefully in some small way helped to correct this misunderstanding.
Peter, in his first letter to God’s chosen people (1 Peter 1:1) wrote:
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2:11-17)
“Peter encourages us to cultivate the attitude of serving God obediently, by using our lifestyles to showcase God’s values. We may not immediately be able to see changes in the society we live in, but we can and do have control over our inner attitudes… [you are] an ambassador for Jesus.” (SU Notes – Encounter with God – 16/12/2024)
In some ways, this too is the message of certain of the proverbs here in chapter 11 where a number of positive (or negative) character traits and their implications for oneself but also for those around us are emphasized as follows:
Humility (Definition: is the honest recognition of your own worth—your worth as God sees us. It is when you seek to bring glory and honor to God and looks out for the interests of others. See Colossians 3.12-14; Philippians 2:3-8):
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom. (See also 16:18, 18:12, 29:23)
True humility honours God and reveals Jesus to others, the One who being found in appearance as a man… humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:8)
Integrity (Definition: means being honest and having strong moral and ethical principles. A person with integrity behaves justly and does the right thing, even when people aren’t watching.)
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. (See also 13:6)
We read in Psalm 78:72 that “David shepherded them [Israel] with integrity of heart.” This is how God desires all his leaders to lead and his followers to follow – in simplicity, uprightness, wholeness, completeness and with an undivided heart (Psalm 86:11).
Righteousness (Definition: means when you are living in right relationship with God, with other people, and all creation. When you act with righteousness you live justly, honestly, and faithfully according to God’s instructions). So here we learn that:
4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires… (on a similar theme see also 11:8, 9, 21)
19 Truly the righteous attain life,
but whoever pursues evil finds death.
And finally:
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the one who is wise saves lives.
The blessings of righteousness are many, as the author here describes, and the blessings overflows to those around us, if they are willing to receive them (see 11:10-11).
Blamelessness (Definition: to be “without accusation” (Strongs) i.e. because you are living in such a way that you are open and willing to be taught new things, willing to be led, holding fast to all the truth that God has imparted to you, and learning to do what is right in the various situations of your life).
20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
Paul to Timothy describes how the leaders in Christ’s church should lead a blameless life. He says: Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money… He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (1 Timothy 3:2-3, 7)
Good character impacts both our own personal lives and can’t help being a blessing to our family, friends and neighbours, and just maybe others may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
How are you going showcasing God, his message, values and desires?
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms and Proverbs 