Thought for the Day

Verse 20 - Deceit is all too prevalent in today's society. The dictionary17 defines "deceit" as: (1) The act of representing as true what is known to be false; deceiving or lying (2) A dishonest action or trick; fraud or lie.

Those who practice deceit have evil imaginations. Greed motivates them to seek personal gain at another's expense; and fraudulent schemes abound today. Covetousness (desiring what belongs to another) is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). Swindlers avoid honest work and take advantage of others' weaknesses. Seeking to make money without working for it is unrighteous (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Our character is built through honest work. Anyone claiming to be a Christian while swindling others brings disrepute to the church. In fact, we are told not to even fellowship with brothers and sisters in the Lord who are dishonest, immoral and greedy. "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat" (1 Corinthians 5:11).

Promoters of peace will have joy. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9). We are blessed when we pursue peace and counsel others to walk in peace. We promote peace between God and man by sharing the Gospel. There is great joy in bringing others to Christ and helping them live godly lives.

Verse 21 - Ultimately no evil, misfortune, or calamity shall overcome the righteous, whereas the wicked will be filled with these things. Looking at this verse we may not believe it, because we or other Christians we know, have gone through many kinds of evil, misfortune and calamity. However, in this world, we may suffer some of the things that people who do not know the Lord suffer; but the difference is that we go through them and are not destroyed by them. Our eternal state in Christ causes us to overcome all evil that the devil may try to bring our way. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Our life in Christ enables us to overcome all the evil and suffering that Satan may try to bring our way. We are more than conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37-39; Isaiah 54:17a). For those without faith, suffering has no benefit. The fate of the wicked is ruin, which their own wicked deeds bring upon them.

Verse 22 - The fate of the wicked is different, as their own wicked deeds bring them down. They are ultimately destroyed – either in this life on earth or the life to come in hell. They are filled with mischief and deceit. Their lying lips are extremely disgusting and hateful to the Lord, but He delights in those who speak and act honestly. God cannot lie and hates lying. Lying is on the list of seven things that God hates in Proverbs 6:17. We must guard ourselves against it.