24.253 | THE INTEGRITY OF THE UPRIGHT | Proverbs 11:1-4 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Text: Proverbs 11:1-4 (ESV)

1 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,

but a just weight is his delight.

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with the humble is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

but righteousness delivers from death.

THE INTEGRITY OF THE UPRIGHT

God does approve the honest persons in their professions. On the other hand, He has a strong displeasure for those who are dishonest in their business dealings. The prophet Amos exposed the crooked businessmen who were looking forward to the end of religious holidays so they could pursue their crooked business practices. They ask: "When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances?"[Amos 8:5]

In verse two, Solomon said that the outcome of pride is disgrace. The word "pride" is zā'don, which also means "arrogance." One who claims he has no need for God in his life. One who is in self-indulgent living and full of ego. He believes he is the master of his own fate, but he fails to understand that pride goes before a fall. Like King Herod in Acts 12:1-23, wherein everyone shouted that he was a god and not a man. Rather than deflect such praise, he embraced it. Immediately Herod's pride turned to disgrace. “An angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last" (Acts 12:23).

The righteous person, however, is full of integrity. The Hebrew root word for "integrity" is tummah, also translated "blameless." This indicates moral wholeness or not having any moral blemish. This does not mean a person is perfectly free from all sin. As he follows the Lord’s instructions, he is safe and secure. But, the treacherous will end up in destruction. Judas is one example who was greedy and ended his life tragically.

The righteous is eternally safe and secured. They don’t fear death (John 3:36). Clothed in the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21), they enjoy victory over death, and when they die, they enter the presence of Christ (2 Cor 5:8; Phi 1:21–23). But, those who rely on money, instead of God, will not only lose their wealth in eternity, they'll lose everything. They don’t trust in riches but in Christ alone. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath. It’s his righteousness, that is, the righteousness of Christ clothed upon him.

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