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Proverbs 17:8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

Generous Love To Others Will Prosper You

Illustrate: A gift given out of affection and a desire to show respect to and to elevate another will prosper both you, and the person who receives it. I knew a man once who said “My wife and I never give one another gifts”. Yet when I watched the marriage, his wife regarded him with suspicion. She told me in private, “He’s never really loved me”. Before the dear, embittered woman died she told me, “He’s not the man you think he is. He’s changed over the years.”

He, on the other hand, sneaked around and bought things behind her back. He’s hide things from her. Their marriage wasn’t a marriage at all – but a battlefield where it seemed that two enemies conspired against one another. They were both Christians – but their marriage was a shamble.

That which you own, the things that you have, are all temporary and ultimately of little value. But the deep relationships you build with your spouse, your children, and your close friends will last into eternity.

Do not just invest your goods in others, but your life. This is the Way of Christ. The Bible tells us that:

Mark 2:15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

Jesus gave the greatest gift He could give – His life – to those who were shunned by the religious crowd. Jesus never participated in their sins, but made Himself available to minister to them. This so impressed the publicans (tax collectors) and sinners that “THEY FOLLOWED HIM”.

Jesus ALWAYS called out sin, and never condoned the action of the sinner. To the woman taken in adultery Jesus said:

John 8:11 Neither do I condemn you. GO, and SIN NO MORE.

We are never to justify evil, nor to twist the Law of God. We are told later in this chapter:

Proverbs 17:23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to PERVERT the ways of judgment.

We cling to God’s standards – but give graciously to those around us. As we have received grace, so we give grace. Giving graciously sooner or later “Prospereth”

Illustrate: A good example of this is the life-long friendship between David and Jonathan. When God sent David to live with King Saul the Bible says:

1 Samuel 18:1-4 (NKJV) … the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. … 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.

Jonathan not only gave David comfort and friendship in Saul’s home, but he gave David his armor, which was made for a prince. His sword and his bow were very fine – worthy of the son of the King. When Saul began to plot and planned to kill David out of jealousy, often his son Jonathan was David’s only friend. Jonathan went against his father to save David’s life.

Many years later when both Saul and Jonathan were dead and David had become King, the Bible says:

2 Samuel 9:1 (NKJV) David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

David may have still been wearing Jonathan’s armor, and doing battle with his friend’s sword and bow. Jonathan had a living son who was lame in the feet (2 Samuel 9:3) named Mephibosheth. David had Mephibosheth brought into his palace, saying:

2 Samuel 9:11 (NKJV) As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.”

Gifts given in love and respect will prosper the one so blessed. Give of yourself, of your goods. In time you will prosper from it.

Give Forgiveness To Find Love

Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

A petty and unreasonable person will often find themselves friendless and alone. When others offend us, we should strive to “cover the transgression”, to forgive it. Godly discretion doesn’t mean to ignore offenses or justify sin, but to be ready to forgive offenses. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told us to pause before seeking retribution:

Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth

Back before Israel had either Kings or Judges, God required that the Levitical Priests judge matters and inflict appropriate punishment on offenders. God wanted the punishment to be balanced, so He established Lex Talionis, the Law of Retaliation.

Leviticus 24:19-22 (NKJV) ‘If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him— 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. 21 And whoever kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death. 22 You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the Lord your God.’ ”

This was the Law for Israel at that time. But now the Lord Jesus Christ has come. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17). Before there were Kings and Judges, this was the Law of the Righteous. But now Jesus Christ, the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16) says:

Matthew 5:39-42 I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Cover the transgression with GRACE. Understand that God is our Avenger. The Bible says:

Romans 12:19-21 (KJV) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

If you feed the injustice committed to you, if you allow anger and a victim mentality to seize your life, there will never be peace. Love graciously as Jesus loved. The King said:

John 13:34-35 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Though we frequently offend God, the Lord is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9). The Apostle said:

Romans 12:10 (ESV) Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

We are not to bear grudges in the House of Christ, but to maintain peace and unity. We were told in Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” We are told by the Apostle:

Galatians 6:1 (ESV) Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Forgive the sin for Christ’s sake. Perhaps you will lead a soul to Christ!

The Saved Give Heed To Reproof

Proverbs 17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

We live in a “let’s be offended” age. Students used to go to college to learn how to think critically. Now they go to college and have “safe spaces” where you can’t say anything that might offend them.

This is clearly satanic.

Author Salman Rushdie wrote a book called “The Satanic Verses”, which explored the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The book offended the Muslim world, and religious leaders issued a fatwa, a death warrant issued by the supreme leader of Iran. In 2022 Rushdie was brutally stabbed in Chautauqua, New York. He lost his right eye, and his liver and hands were damaged. Rushdie stated:

“Nobody has the right to not be offended. That right doesn’t exist in any declaration I have ever read. If you are offended it is your problem, and frankly lots of things offend lots of people.”

As a Pastor, I have often been “canceled” by those offended by what I said. Righteous people are not afraid of the truth, nor are they afraid of being offended. It is the fool who will not hear truth.

People say, “You need to be NICE”. No, we need to be truthful. We need to be kind. These words are in the Bible, but the word “NICE” is not in the Bible, any version. We need to be biblical. As John MacArthur said, “Jesus was not crucified for being nice. Nice people do not get crucified.”

The “fool” or godless person will not hear wise instruction nor reproof. A wise man will. The “fool” is a fool because they are self focused. If beaten, the fool will blame the whip, not his failure that brought the beating. When John the Baptist rebuked Herod the tetrarch:

Luke 3:19-20 (NKJV) Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by {John the Baptist} concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

Herod was living in sexual sin with Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Rather than repent, Herod imprisoned John, and eventually had him beheaded. Herod was a “tetrarch”, a king appointed by the Roman Cesar to oversee Jerusalem. But Herod continued in his arrogance. We are told that:

Acts 12:21-23 … Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

The fool will eventually bring his own destruction on himself, just as Herod did. Had he repented and sought God’s Grace when John the Baptist warned him, he wouldn’t have died as horribly as he did. People need to stop being offended, and start hearing Biblical truth. If Herod can be eaten by worms and die, God can do the same to us!

Evil Will Be Put Away

Proverbs 17:11-13 (NKJV) An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. 13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

The foolish, godless, proud and insubordinate man hates to follow any authority other than his own. The Bible teaches that “what goes around, comes around”. Eventually the evil a person does will come back on them. The “evil man seeking rebellion” will have a “cruel messenger sent against him”.

What is this “CRUEL MESSENGER”? It is whatever means that God uses to chastise the evil person.

Sodom and Gomorrah had two cruel messengers sent to them for their evil sexual sins. The cruel messengers rained fire and brimstone down on these cities, destroying men, women, and children.

Rebellious Israel had various cruel messengers sent to them. God used the nations of Babylon, Assyria, Medo-Persia, and Rome to punish His people because they would not repent.

Our rebellious world had a cruel messenger sent to it in the days of Noah. Refusing the Grace of God, all of creation drowned save for those on board the Ark.

Our God WILL punish evil, regardless as to who you are. Rich or poor, male or female, white, black, yellow, red, or brown, God will punish sin. He says:

Colossians 3:25 He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons

It is better to meet an angry mama bear right after you captured her children than to be a fool reclining in folly and sin. When you are given good, and you return evil for it, you shall suffer evil itself.

Illustrate: This brings us to the story of Joab. Joab was David’s nephew, his sister Zeruiah’s second son (1 Chronicles 2:13-17). In 1 Chronicles 11:6 King David was in battle. He said:

1 Chronicles 11:6 Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander-in-chief.’ Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.

Though Joab bravely volunteered to lead the charge, what David didn’t know is that Joab was bloodthirsty, and conniving.

He was a strong tactician and a powerful General, but he regarded human life as nothing. When King David was dying, he called his son Solomon to his side. David told Solomon:

1 Kings 2:1-4 (NKJV) Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: 2 “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. 3 And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; 4 that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

David’s first command was that Solomon love and honor God. But his second command was about his nephew Joab:

1 Kings 2:5-6 (NKJV) Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to ABNER the son of Ner and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed. And he shed the blood of war in peacetime, and put the blood of war on his belt that was around his waist, and on his sandals that were on his feet. 6 Therefore do according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace.

Joab was a bloodthirsty man. When Absalom David’s son revolted against him, David ordered that no one kill his son (2 Samuel 18:5, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom”). When Joab found Absalom caught in a tree by his long hair (2 Samuel 18:9) he could have captured him and taken him back to his father. Rather than do this, the Bible says:

2 Samuel 18:14 (NKJV) {Joab} took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.

Joab not only murdered Absalom, but also Abner and Amasa (both relatives of David). Knowing that Solomon was David’s successor, Joab allied himself with Adonijah to seize the throne of David from Solomon. Though David did not punish this murderer while he was King, he ordered Solomon to do so. David advised Solomon “do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace”. The Bible tells us that the government – and King David was the government – has the power to prosecute and execute murderers. When Solomon ordered Joab’s death, he said:

1 Kings 2:31-32 (NKJV) … strike him down and bury him, that you may take away from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood which Joab shed. 32 So the Lord will return his blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword—Abner the son of Ner, the commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, the commander of the army of Judah—though my father David did not know it.

In this case, Solomon was the cruel messenger coming for the rebellious Joab. God will balance it out in the end.

Trust God To Handle It, And Do Not Strive

Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

My commentary notes:

“A leak in a dike could be stopped with a pebble if noticed at the beginning. But if neglected, it will grow greater and greater until, at last, the inrushing waters will carry away everything in front of them. So it is with strife. How many a lifelong contention has begun with a few hasty words. If repented of and apologized for at once, the quarrels would have ceased immediately and years of sorrow averted. ”

It is best to resolve battles and arguments quickly. Our Lord Jesus advised in the Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 5:25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison

Stay True To God’s Truth

Proverbs 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

In our day our society demands that we affirm what God finds abominable, and shun that which God finds pleasant.

The public is happiest if Barabas is released, but Jesus crucified. God despises it when we declare evil “good” and good “evil”. God spoke through the Prophet:

Isaiah 5:16-20 the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, And God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness. 17 Then the lambs shall feed in their pasture, And in the waste places of the fat ones strangers shall eat. 18 Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, And sin as if with a cart rope; 19 That say, “Let Him make speed and hasten His work, That we may see it; And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, That we may know it.” 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

God will punish those who pervert His justice. What is opposed to justice is an abomination. Stand with the King of Kings.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.