Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it (Proverbs 3:27).
Solomon, the wisest of all people in the history of all peoples, wrote down many of his most thoughtful sayings in the book of Proverbs. I find them as challenging and applicable to the way I live as any modern philosophical opinion.
For instance, I usually think of a sinful act as something that I choose to do. I might decide to lie to my wife, or short the tax man, or yell at a stranger who cuts across my path. Sins of commission—ways I’ve acted or thought that displease the Lord and violate His scriptures—rear up daily for me. But Solomon’s not addressing those types of sin here.
The man of wisdom points out that I also hurt others by doing nothing, by choosing not to notice, by averting my eyes. Instead of moving toward a person who needs help, I hang back, usually due to excuses about time or getting involved or being misunderstood. These reflect sins of omission—failures to act.
Mostly, no one else knows notices when I’ve withheld good from someone else. A sly sinner, I glide through life with my head down, minding my own business. Like the religious folks in the story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan, I tend to cross the road to avoid the hassle, rather than kneel down and see if I can help.
This dichotomy requires a new set of lenses to see the world. For me, at my stage and place in life, while I hope to help people flourish and grow, I’m tempted to hold back. It’s easier to stay in my lane—fewer hassles, less misunderstandings, no accusations. But I possess power to do good, and I’m not looking to withhold it.
Maybe you’re like me, wondering what the Lord has in mind for you in light of this verse? In a world filled with needs, it’s hard to know where to start. Join me as I pray for wisdom and clarity in directing the little bit of good I possess toward those in my path.
Proverbs 3 in week twenty-three of reading the Bible cover to cover
Photo by Josh Calabrese
Amen, can hurt for years and you feel abandoned.