PROVERBS CHAPTER 11
Honesty In Business 11:1 Godliness and honestly must even be practiced in the business realm. God doesn’t buy the excuse that “business is business”, or that Christian principles are unworkable and impractical in such a realm. “Apparently cheating in buying and selling is as old as the marketplace itself…Today we have butchers with thumbs on scales or elaborate packaging techniques that deceive; both are as dishonest as differing weights” (Alden p. 91). Compare with Lev. 19:35-36; Amos 8:5; Deut. 25:13-16; Proverbs 20:10,23. “To increase their profits many merchants used two sets of stone weights when weighing merchandise. Lighter stones were placed on the scales when selling (so that a lesser quantity was sold for the stated price), and heavier ones were used when buying (so that more was obtained for the same price)…The reference to ‘the Lord’ puts commercial matters in the spiritual realm” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 928).
Pride And Humility 11:2 “Both false weights and arrogant people claim to be ‘heavier’ than they really are….Sins do not come in isolation but in clusters. Someone who thinks only of self and has no regard for others can easily resort to cheating in business affairs” (Garrett p. 125). Which means that the arrogant man is untrustworthy in every area of his life. “When pride comes”-arrogance is a choice, one isn’t born boastful. “then comes dishonor”-i.e. dishonor. Eventually, every arrogant individual will be humbled, if not in this life, at the judgment. “This word for pride is from a root that suggests boiling up, and is used of the arrogance of those who must have everything their own way, and will not be ‘kicked around’, i.e. Pharaoh (Neh. 9:10); disobedient Israelites (9:16,29), the social rebel (Deut. 17:12,13), and the bogus prophet (18:20)” (Kidner p. 90). Let us not be quick to envy the person who “has it their way”, typically, even in this life, their dinner of crow is waiting them. Humility (Micah 6:8), is the person who understands their place, especially before God. The man who submits to God with a good attitude will find wisdom.
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