Considering Proverbs 12:2-3
A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved (Proverbs 12:2-3).
What is the meaning of Proverbs 12: 2-3 from a Christian perspective? As Christians, we know that all things hinge on grace, which is the undeserved favor of God. How should we deal with a proverb like this one?
I believe that the correct approach is to know that although there was nothing we did to earn God’s grace, He still rewards those who live in an upright way. In-fact, He expects us to.
Sincere faith that is given by God will cause us to turn away from all “wicked devices” out of our love and fear of Jesus Christ. If we are not doing so, then the faith we seem to have is a mockery of God, and we might be among those who are told, “depart from me, you who work iniquity, I never knew you.”
We cannot use the gospel of Jesus Christ as an excuse for sinful living. We will never be established in the Kingdom of Heaven this way. We would instead be like the fig tree that Jesus cursed, and it immediately withered (Mark 11). He expects us to be “fruitful,” as the work of the Holy Spirit is done within us.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-25).
When we have deep roots that are watered by the Holy Spirit, then we will not be moved. Although we need to be new wineskins, always seeking more knowledge of the Lord and His righteousness, there are going to be things that we never turn away from.
First and foremost, we will not deny the gospel of Jesus Christ. From there, we will grow in faith, and in so doing we will be made stronger in all righteousness, good Christian doctrine, and what it means to contend for the faith in an upright way. He will establish us, and we will work alongside Him to see His work in us done—not because we are earning His saving grace—but because we have received it truly.
There will always be “devices of the wicked” that we have to deal with and fight against. We cannot back down from these challenges, but face them head on in faith, knowing that those who do wickedly are condemned, and they will never succeed ultimately.
Yet, we do not condemn others. As Jesus said, those who reject Him are “condemned already, because they have not believed in the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). It is never our place to condemn. We do not have that authority whether we are talking about those who seem to be of the faith but are corrupting the faith or those who are outside of the faith. Jesus will judge. We can judge in the sense of putting forward Jesus’s judgments, and we can seek Him to give us righteous judgement. However, we cannot judge in the sense of condemnation, as those who are in “Satan’s Seat.”
Sometimes it seems as if the wicked are established in this world while we struggle. However, the promises and judgement of God are sure. He will be victorious over our enemies, and those who abide in Him will one day rule with Him—and we will never be moved.
This article is part of a bible study series, Considering the Proverbs. The purpose is to consider present-day events from a Christian perspective and to offer practical lessons that we can apply to ourselves as followers of Jesus Christ.
Previous Post Within This Series: Considering Proverbs 12:1 – Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish (Proverbs 12:1).
Jesus says to the Church of Ephesus in Revelation, “I will remove your candlestick out of its place, unless you repent.” Some things seem to be firmly established, but if they are not wrought in God truly, then they will not be established in His Kingdom forever. In the online book, “These Things Saith He,” we explore areas of weakness within the faith that are not acceptable to God–and we do so in faith–trusting in His mercy as well as in His righteous judgments. We want to be as the two olive trees ( the faithful ministers who are not “stars” that want to shine as some great leader, but servants who are not moved in the good things of God, and as the two candlesticks (the faithful congregation of all who are called out of this world and into the true church of God).
