Proverbs 11 and 12
Some may think that the Lord does not notice how men sell articles, or so small things as the weights of the scales, but these proverbs tell that to be dishonest in such matters is a great evil to the Lord, called “abomination:”
Another proverb speaks of “divers weights”, which meant not using a correct weight for all, but making short weight now and then, or to one they thought would not notice. There are many ways of being dishonest, and the Lord sees those ways. There is something else which we might think no one would need to think about:
“A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast:” Prov. 12:1010A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. (Proverbs 12:10). So a man who wants to be right, will not overwork his horses or be cruel to animals. Another very great evil:
Sometimes it may seem hard to answer questions truthfully, either for boys and girls or for older people, but let us remember those who speak the truth are it “delight” to the Lord.
There is one special kind of work to be done for the Lord: to tell others of Him, that they may be “won” to Him:
If you read of the men who first heard that Jesus was “the Lamb of God,” the One to be offered for sin, you will read that one man, Andrew, went right away to tell his brother Peter, and brought him to Jesus. Andrew was “wise” to soul (John 1:41, 4241He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:41‑42)).
You notice in the Proverbs a “wise” person believes wise words, and believes God; one called “foolish” does not believe or do the right way, and neglects or does not believe God.
Sometimes people have sorrow or trouble which causes the heart to be very, heavy, but “A good word maketh it glad.” Prov. 12:2525Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. (Proverbs 12:25). A boy or girl could speak such a word and cheer that one; the really “good” word is to tell them a verse from God’s Word.
ML 02/16/1941