Proverbs 17:13 Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
News headlines in bold print were regularly flashing on the fraudulent activity of ABCPs Asset-Backed Commercial Paper that had been advertised as solid investments, turned out to be fluff. Banks were caught up in illegal housing foreclosures. The nightly news was awash in scandal and accusations of hubris corruption that went right to the top floors of our trusted financial system.
People had trusted in their golden idols and the cost was great. Psalm 12:1 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. 2 They speak vanity everyone with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
The economic crash of 2009 taught us that anything was acceptable as long as it made big money, and the truth was irrelevant as long as no one got caught in the scheme that was falsified as honest. The moral compass of these financial leaders had become corrupt and broken. Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
When we allow this type of avarice to rule, then there is a danger that, as a society, we will start to rationalize this behavior as normal. Eccl. 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
When we start voting by opinion, referendum, or board room majorities on whether or not we are going to obey the instruction of God, well, we have positioned ourselves on a precarious and crumbling ledge.
The young man was upset with what he had read about himself because he had overcome these addictions and problems. He felt that he was being slandered. However, he did not delete the email but he forwarded it to his employer because it was the honest thing to do.
The following day they talked and everything was put out on the table. Management was grateful for his honesty and said that the complete story was not necessary, but the young man insisted on telling it so that there would never be a doubt in the future. Within a week the honest confessor received a raise in pay and has been given greater responsibility in the company. Luke 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house.
The problem for the employee was that the owner of the company was also out on the same lake in his boat and saw him clearly. Nothing was said until the following week. The owner asked a few innocent questions and the employee continued to elaborate his made-up story of hard work out of town. The end of a good job came tumbling down for the liar. Two choices, two different outcomes.
An idol is anything that causes us to disregard the direction God has set out for our honest lives. Our idols are causing us to make extraordinary absurd statements of belief. We save whales but kill babies. We speak peace and ransack poor countries for their commodities. Isa. 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Jesus has your best interest at heart and will not sell you short. He will not swindle your soul into an unrighteous contract. Jer. 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Let us take our eyes off of our idols that cause us to reward evil for good, and let us focus our eyes upon God who is good. Amen and amen!
As we were reading this, I realized that even more than the physical reward that may come from repaying good with good, is protecting yourself from repositioning your heart a little further from God and His righteousness. It amazes me that after making several little decisions that missed the mark, how the position of the heart can change so much. How dangerous! On the flip side, by repaying good with good, it positions yourself better each time.
I like this
Excellente advise which I will apply every day!