Proverbs 11 - Righteousness

I am going to continue looking at the theme of righteousness in Proverbs. So what does this chapter tell us that righteousness does:

• Delivers us from death (v4)
• Makes our paths straight (v5)
• Delivers them (v6)
• Rescued from trouble (v8)
• Escape danger through knowledge (v9)
• Bring joy to a city when we prosper (v10)
• Reap a sure reward (v18)
• Go free (v21)
• Our desires lead to good (v23)
• Thrive like a green leaf (v28)
• Our fruit is a tree of life (v30)
• Receive their due on the earth (v31)

Now we know that it is in Christ that we are made righteous. We are brought back into relationship with God, our sins are forgiven, and Christ's righteousness is credited to us.

So we should look to these promises to be fulfilled in our lives. We know that we will be raised to eternal life after we die. But most of these proverbs apply to this life, so we should expect fruit now.

Knowing that we are forgiven makes our paths straight. We have the security of belonging to God. So that when many things assail us in life we are able to maintain a wise course. 

We have also repented, ie turned away from our ways and turned towards Christ's ways.

Many of these promises talk about being rescued. We will face trouble, but in Christ we will overcome it.

And our success will bring riches to others. Many of the proverbs contrast the opposite effects of "good" and "bad". When men make money through dishonest or exploitative means it impoverishes all but a few in society, and the effects of this are all too easy to see. But wealth is not the problem. When the righteous prosper it brings joy to many.

We thrive like a green leaf. A green leaf thrives because it is receiving water and nutrients up through the root system. When we put our faith in Christ we become reconnected to God, and we start to receive our sustenance from the supply we are meant to receive it from. This will bring health to our minds and bodies.

We all face many things and go through many trials, but we should look to God with expectancy. Through Christ and in Christ we will overcome.