Jehovah is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. “The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just. Surely, He scorns the scornful but gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory but shame shall be the legacy of fools” (Proverbs 3:33-35).
Like all other spheres of human existence, the spiritual world has laws that govern it. These are not mere suggestions or pleasant platitudes; they are authoritative, actions-have-consequences directives. Disregarding them is supremely foolish.
Proverbs 3:27-32 contains four commandments of wisdom. These are:
- Do not be unfair to others. “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in the power of your hand to do Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you” (vv. 27-28). Being mean and cruel to others are acts of folly, not wisdom.
- Do not devise evil against others. “Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he dwells by you for safety’s sake” (v. 29). Harming your neighbor is harming your neighborhood. In hurting your neighbor, you are hurting yourself. Only a fool thinks that is a good idea.
- Do not mistreat the innocent. “Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm” (v. 30). Civil government has been ordained by God to protect the innocent and to punish those who mistreat them (1st Peter 2:13-14). Those who ignore this divine ordinance ought to be afraid (Romans 13:4). Living in constant fear of the just punishment of your wrongdoing is a foolish way to live.
- Do not envy the evildoer. “Do not envy the oppressor and choose none of his ways; for the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, but His secret counsel is with the upright” (vv. 31-32). Choose carefully the people you want to emulate. An evildoer is not a suitable role model. Only a fool thinks otherwise.
