Probing Proverbs 14:19 Evil people will bow before good
people; the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly.
Whenever we read a Proverb like this, many struggle with the
words “evil” and
“good.”
Quite a few come to some very wrong conclusions. Much of the problem lies with
the issue of, from whose eyes are we seeing through? When it comes from our
human view, we have a very low bar, or at least we should! If we are honest,
most human beings have a moral standard that we would not call evil. Murder,
theft, people that pillage a village…most individuals would see that as evil.
However, we know our own weaknesses, so we would not call someone that breaks
the speed limit, or tells a white lie, or takes a pen from the office home,
evil. Our ideas of “good” are even broader, from taking care of orphans to supplying free
needles to addicts hoping to save them from AIDS. Yet, when we read a Proverb
like this we need to view this from the proper perspective…God’s.
What is “good”
from His view? Consider what Jesus:
Mark 10:17–18 As He was setting out on a journey, a man
ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I
do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good?
No one is good except God alone.
For God “good” is perfection! No flaw, no white lie, no pens from the office.
I can remember for most of my younger years I thought all pens were black and
had “USA,
Government Property” printed on it! Did I think my father was evil? Obviously not!
So when digesting the meaning of a Proverb like this the second phrase can
really help us. “Evil” would be better understood as wicked, - those with no interest or relationship with God. “Good” is
better understood as “godly,” – those that live in close relationship with God. God’s “good” can
only be in us because He has declared us “good” based on the reality that we accepted the
cleansing and forgiveness for our sin offered from the blood of His Son when we
entered into a relationship with Him.
Both the “evil” and “good” all are sinners! Those that live close to
God are seen as “good” while those that keep their lives to themselves, not interested
in what their Creator desires for them, are called “evil.” The
first are sinners that have trusted Christ to forgive their sins, the second
group have kept their sins and plan their own way to please God.
More importantly, a passage like this points out the main thing
humans hate…accountability. It asks two difficult questions: What did you do
with your life, and more important, what did you do with Jesus Christ? So many
only consider the first question…reluctantly. The thought of dying and
having to answer for our life is very uncomfortable for most. Ironically, the
second question is so much more important and actually takes care of the first
question. Entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ produces a new life
that is based on an eternal perspective and empowered by a perfect and Holy
God! You will not live perfect, however your desires will change to seek what
He seeks, your purpose will become focused on eternal issues and you will sense
a destiny that no one can take away.
The So What: Just one question…What have you done with Jesus Christ?
