Proverbs 21:11-15
 
Prov 21:11 (KJB)
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
 
This verse teaches us that even though a person may seem to be a fool or simple, even they may learn by the consequential events in another person’s life. Here the simple person has obviously seen a scorner be punished or they heard about it and as a result, they came to their senses and became wise. This does not mean a person becomes saved because they hear about the punishment of another because even the unsaved knows enough to desire to escape punishment. Here in this verse the punishment of the scorner has had a profound impact on the simple one to the point there was a change in their life and thinking. Instead, of remaining simple, they have decided that to gain wisdom might be a better course of action for their life. Once they begin to see the obvious advantages of becoming wise, they then receive instruction and instead of rejecting that instruction, he will accept that knowledge and begin to grow wisely. This verse is basically teaching that no one has to remain a fool but they can begin to receive instruction and become wise in their lives.
 
Prov 21:12 (KJB)
The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
 
Overthroweth - Ruin or twist
 
The saved man ponders the condition of the house of the wicked. Not that he would envy the material goods he owns or the niceness of the house itself but a righteous man takes all things into consideration, not only the present condition of the wicked but their end. They know that the house of the wicked is going to come to an end and God will overthrow that house because of the wickedness of the people dwelling there. They will eventually be judged on the last day and give an account for their wicked ways and will be cast into hell. Sometimes believers look at the prosperity of those who are unsaved and we question why they have so much while we just about make it from paycheck to paycheck. That is only a shortsighted view and the entire picture must taken into consideration and that would include their end. Once we have the entire picture, we realize that being saved with a little is much better than having much and no Savior.
 
Prov 21:13 (KJB)
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
 
Stoppeth - To close or shut up
 
This verse contains a principle which is for both believers and unbelievers. Whenever we encounter someone who has serious and real needs and we harden our hearts toward them by closing our ears to them, that opens the possibility that someday we may be in the same situation. (1 John 3:17 KJV) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John 3:17 teaches about being generous with the worldly goods the Lord has given to us. If we are able to meet the need of someone, then we should. Worldly goods are not something that anyone is going to keep forever. The way we handle our earthly goods is an indicator of our spiritual attitudes. If a person is unsaved, then selfishness will be a part of their make up. If a person is saved, then selfishness should not even be in their vocabulary. Now it is an obvious thing that we cannot help every single person we see or else we will be sleeping on a park bench and the Lord knows that we need goods to survive in this world but we must keep in mind that the Lord owns it all and if we are stingy, then He can take it from us. I have found over the years that it is better to give voluntarily with the Lord’s blessing than to withhold and have Him take it out of our hands. I know people who do not give to ministries and have placed God last on their list which has resulted in them having perpetual financial problems. As believers part of our responsibility is to send forth the Gospel and if we place ourselves first, then the Lord will trouble our houses with financial or other problems. This is all part of our training and once you get into a mindset of giving, it becomes very easy to give after that. You will then find that it is a joy and not a burden.
 
Prov 21:14 (KJB)
A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
 
Pacifieth - Averts
Reward - Bribe
 
The first part of this verse teaches that a secret gift may avert the anger of someone and it may not necessarily be a wrong thing to do as it may avert a quarrel, provided it is not a bribe as found in the second part of the verse. A bribe is designed to pervert justice which is one of the most serious violations of the law. Let us say a child breaks a window so instead of the child being given a criminal record, his father meets with the neighbor and agrees to buy a new window and pay a little bit more for punitive damages, which the court would probably grant anyway. If the neighbor accepts then a quarrel has been avoided and the situation defused. However, if a child intentionally burns down a neighbor’s garage and then the father attempts to bribe the person, then that is a perversion of justice since arson was involved. It is best to stay away from the practice of secret gifts.
 
Prov 21:15 (KJB)
It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
 
Joy - Gladness or rejoicing
 
Those who are saved have a natural inclination to do what is right and just. In fact, they have an inward joy in obeying the commands of God. Since they have become saved, obeying God has become a lifestyle and obedience is something that comes easy. They just filter their every move through the fear of God and if they think that they would be committing sin, then they would avoid those actions. It is not so with the wicked, they have a natural inclination do evil and there is no lack of it in their lives. Since the unbelievers have no fear of God, they continue to sin without conscience and the result of that life will be destruction in hell on the last day.

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