Proverbs 11:15-21--The Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 11:15-21
English Standard Version
15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16 A gracious woman gets honor,
    and violent men get riches.
17 A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
    but he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD,
    but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

---

There's not really a single thread to connect all these verses today, but we are going to talk about the connection between money and wisdom a couple of times.  First, Solomon discourages wise men from cosigning a loan or giving the collateral for a neighbor's loan.  It's not your loan and you end up on the hook if they default.  Also, if they can't afford to put down the collateral for the loan, they more than likely can't afford the loan.  It doesn't mean that you shouldn't help them, but don't put them in a situation where they are indebted, and you know they can't pay you back.  The person who hates even shaking hands in a pledge (I think we are still talking about borrowing money) will be more secure as he won't be enslaved to the one that he owes money to.

Solomon contrasts a gracious woman who gains honor and juxtaposes that with a violent man who has no honor but gains riches.  It is better to be less rich and to have honor than to be rich and have none.  Inner beauty that comes from good character for outshines a person with ugly character that is adorned with all kinds of riches.  Similarly, men should be kind (even though that is normally not thought of as a masculine trait).  Such a man benefits himself because in being kind to others, they will likely be kind to him in return and will watch out for him.  A cruel man however does himself harm because no one will look for the opportunity to be kind to him, and some (maybe many) will instead be looking for the change to "settle the score" and "get even."  You reap what you sow, greater than you sow and later than you sow.

On that line of thought, the wicked man earns deceptive wages.  That could mean that he lies, cheats and steals to earn it, but it could also mean that he thinks he has the money, but it's all going to disappear quickly because the LORD will not allow him to hold onto his ill-gotten gain.  The one who sows righteously has a sure reward (ultimately their reward is in heaven, and no one can steal that away).  Where are you laying up treasure for yourself?  Is it on earth where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, or is your treasure laid up in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy, and thieves cannot break in and steal?  Jesus asks this question to His disciples and then says, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  It's not bad to make money here and now, but don't treasure the things of this world like the foolish worldly men that only live for this world.  All of that will one day be destroyed.

Those who are steadfast in righteousness (because the Spirit keeps them so) will inherit eternal life, but the one who practices and pursues evil will die.  This gets back to the fact that there are two kingdoms, two roads, two gates, and two destinations.  You can be a citizen of the kingdom of this world or a citizen of the kingdom of God.  You can't have dual citizenship and have a foot in each kingdom.  Your eternal life depends on your choice of which kingdom you belong to.  Those who are crooked are an abomination to the LORD (He hates their crooked actions) and they will face His judgment, but the blameless (they are blameless because He has made them that way) are His delight.  Certainly, no wicked or evil person will go unpunished, but those who are children of God and have been declared righteous will be delivered from the coming judgment and condemnation that we all know is coming and which is foretold by the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament authors.