Not Just About Me…or You

Sometimes we think that the choices we make or the “god” that we serve only impacts us individually.  But if we really think about it, that is definitely not the case.  In Proverbs 11:7-11 we see how our choices can impact others.

 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.  8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.  9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.  10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.  11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

Verses 9 and 10 speak very clearly to this idea.  In verse 9 we read that the hypocrite destroys his neighbor with his mouth.  If we act hypocritically we will impact others.  In fact, the impact we have on others might be greater than the impact we have on ourselves.  If someone knows we say one thing and do another, think of the damage that is done.  Those who watch us are likely to reject what we say that we believe because it doesn’t match what we do.  Then in verse 10 we see that an entire city can rejoice when it goes well with the righteous.  In verse 11 we read that a city is exalted by the blessing of the upright.  When we follow God others will be blessed by what we do.  They can experience the “overflow” of God’s blessing in our lives.  So, it is pretty clear that what we say and do are not only about each of us…but impacts others as well…it is really not just about me or you…but others as well.

In wisdom,
Eric