Probing Proverbs 13:23 A poor person’s farm may produce
much food, but injustice sweeps it all away.
King David had sinned…taken the wife of a faithful
soldier and had him murdered. God sent Nathan to tell him a story. There were
two men, one rich and one poor. The rich man owned many sheep and cattle; the
poor man owned only one lamb and raised it as a pet for his family. One day the
rich man had a guest at his home, yet did not offer one of his many animals,
instead, he took the one lamb the poor man possessed and killed it for a meal
for his guest. David became furious at this story claiming the rich man should
pay greatly for this…Nathan basically told David to look in the mirror!
The Truth this Proverb screams at us is the reality of how one
person’s
actions can impact someone else so much! David did exactly what this Proverb
describes; injustice can steal and destroy the little that someone has. None of
us lives in a vacuum; all of our actions affect and impact others. With this in
mind, though we cannot control what others do, we can control how we behave and
what our actions are. How important is it then, that we live in a way that is
right, just and full of integrity? When you decide to be as right as you can
with everyone you encounter, the fruit that is produced will be an
encouragement to those around you. The small job that someone did, when you
give them a fair wage for it, how encouraged they are to do even better next
time? The compliment you give someone for a good deed they performed inspires
them to live like that always! 
When we conduct our life in ways that are unjust, whether that
be in business, with neighbors, friendships or family, the fruit that is
produced can bring destruction to those that live in the circle of our
influence. When we live for ourselves only, we take the wind out of the sails
of those around us! The effort they gave, no matter how small, goes unrewarded
and they drown in a sea of injustice!
The So What: Do try to live as justly as possible, or do you
cut corners to get what you want? Is your goal to get the lowest price you can
for work you ask others to do, or do you strive to do what would be fair for
all? Do you take notice of the little things people in your life do for you and
thank them, or do you just consume and then move on?
