Proverbs 11 – if you haven’t read my thoughts on the book of Proverbs yet, you’ll want to do so here. This isn’t a comprehensive look at each verse, but it is how God spoke to me through particular chapter of His Word at this particular chapter in my life. I encourage you to read the full chapter in your own Bible first so you can see how God wants to speak to you through this chapter, and so you don’t miss out on the verses I didn’t cover. I hope it can speak to you as well, and I hope you are encouraged to seek Him in His Word. And if you missed Proverbs 10, you should also check that out here.  Otherwise, on to Proverbs 11!

11:1 – False scales are an abomination to the Lord, but accurate weights please Him. Scales and weights can also apply to the standards we set for ourselves and others. That means I cannot hold myself or others to different standards of my own making. God’s Word is the standard, and we cannot sit in the judgment seat.

11:3a – The integrity of the upright guides them. Our integrity is a verb – it is our actions. Our integrity is how we do what we do. When we are upright, acting with integrity, our actions themselves will help guide us to more right decisions.

11:9a – With his mouth the hypocrite can ruin his neighbor. 11:11-12 – By the blessing of the upright, a city is raised up; but the words of the wicked tear it down. He who belittles another lacks good sense, whereas a person of discernment stays silent. We are made in the image of God, and with His words, He created the world. I’m sure none of us plans on creating any universes in the near future, but as children of God, our words are still powerful. We need to use them carefully and not carelessly. We need to be careful about how we speak about our country and our city and our place of employment, choosing to bless them, and not curse them with negative words. We can and should speak truth, but let’s not make any situation by not speaking life into whatever and whomever we come into contact with. Prayer – God, help me to see the good around me and not just the bad. Help me to build up the country and city and community that I live in and employer that I work for, instead of bringing it lower with my words.

11:16a – A gracious woman obtains honor. Prayer – God, help me to be full of grace, ever ready to tip the scales toward grace for those I come into contact with.

11:20b – Those sincere in their ways are God’s delight. Prayer – God, help me have the right motivation for everything I choose to do. Help me invest the time to really, truly ask why to everything I undertake, and help me find the root of my actions and decisions. Help me to act out of a sincere and pure heart, and not for personal gain.

11:29a – Those who trouble their families inherit the wind. This verse is particularly humbling to me. When I make a habit of bring trouble to my family and those around me, even when they are seemingly small or insignificant things, my promise for that, is that I will inherit the wind. When I am old and grey, there will be no one around me, and no one who wants to be around me. This verse brings me to my knees every time I read it. Prayer – God. Oh merciful God in heaven. Please, show me when I am bringing trouble to my family and friends. Show me how to correct myself in this. Give me the strength to correct myself. I don’t want to bring trouble to those I care about, but I cannot always see when I am doing just that. I do not want to inherit nothing, to be alone when I could have all my most dearly loved ones surrounding me. Help me heal the trouble I have caused in the past. Going forward, help me bring life to those around me, and not trouble.

11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls. Do we really speak, and do, and sow good fruit in everything we do? Do we bring life to those around us? I certainly want to seek to win souls and build people up by encouraging them and bringing them closer to God. Prayer – God, thank you for the power of your Holy Spirit within me to produce good fruit from my words and actions. Help me to renew my mind and strive to speak life every day.

Friend, I have prayed these same prayers over you today. May God’s Word stir sincere thoughts and pure motivations in your heart so that they start to affect your words, so that you speak more and more words of life to those around you. And may your words start to affect the integrity of your actions, so that what you do brings life to those around you as well.

Until next time,

– Just a girl pursuing her reflection in the mirror of God’s Word.

All scripture quotations are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, Copyright © 1998 and 2016 by David H. Stern. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.