Proverbs 11:1-4--The Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 11:1-4
English Standard Version
11 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.

---

Chapter 11 continues the Proverbs of Solomon that started in Chapter 10.  Today, I'll just look at verses 1-4, which talk about integrity in our business dealings and other interactions with people.  Solomon first reminds his listeners and readers that the LORD hates dishonest gain that comes by way of people cheating their customers and neighbors.  In that time, they would use a balance where someone would tell you how much they wanted to buy of something by weight, and you as the shopkeeper had weights that you would put on one side of the balance and then you would let the grain or whatever else they were purchasing balance out with the weights.  However, the shopkeepers often had two different sets of weights--one that was true and accurate, and one that was meant for ripping their customers off, or they might have had two different sets of weights that were both to their advantage--one to rip off their suppliers and the other to rip off their customers.  The LORD hates dishonest weights and measures not just in business, but in all areas of life too, but we'll make that connection later when those situations come up in Proverbs and in the Prophets.

The next thing that Solomon reminds the people of is that pride is also an abomination to the LORD.  It is the character trait of the devil, not God.  The LORD opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble, and those who are proud will be humiliated by God, but those who humble themselves will be exalted by Him.  Jesus is the best example of this as He humbled Himself and will one day be highly exalted by the Father because His name will be above every other name that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue in heaven and on earth and under the earth will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.  Jesus had all the reason to boast because He accomplished everything, but He simply said His job was to do the will of His Father who was in heaven.  He did not glorify Himself, but instead chose to glorify the Father.  We refuse to glorify ourselves and instead glorify the Father, Son, and Spirit.

Walking with integrity and being blameless in the eyes of both God and men is generally a great protection because you don't have look over your shoulder to wonder if you are going to get caught or if you are going to accidently rip the wrong person off.  If you treat everyone right to begin with then those who hate you will have to make up lies about you (like they did with Daniel and Joseph) and no one should believe them because you will be above reproach.  As we've seen with Joseph and Daniel, it doesn't always work out this way, and we have to trust the LORD to protect us from the schemes of wicked men when we have walked with integrity.  The wicked and crooked man that lies, cheats, steals and swindles people will one day get caught and it will lead to his own destruction.  Either someone will rip him off, he will get sued and have to pay a hefty fine and/or go to jail, or his life may be taken from him by those he made enemies with or by the state, depending on where he lives and if theft is a capital offense (it still is in certain parts of the world).  

No one can take his wealth with him when he dies, and no one will be able to bribe God with his material wealth.  Everything from this world will be destroyed by fire as we read about in 2 Peter 3:12--everything will melt with fervent heat.  All the unrighteous will stand before the LORD with nothing to hide who they are and what they have done.  The books will be opened up and the evidence will be presented.  No one will be able to argue with the one who is both Prosecutor and Judge.  The decision is already made, but everyone will have their day in court to hear the charges and the verdict.  However, the righteous man who has been declared righteous only because He has trusted in the completed work of Christ will be saved from death and condemnation.  We will receive all the good things that were meant as an inheritance for Jesus, but we will freely receive them as His Bride who gets an equal share of the infinite riches that are His.  Those who are foolish live for themselves and die an eternal death.  Those who are wise die to self, live for Christ and gain eternal and abundant life.  The choice is yours and is freely offered to you during the term of your natural life (no one knows exactly how long you have other than God).  Today, if He is calling to you, "Today is the day of salvation."  Do not reject the Spirit's call if he is calling to you.