The Power of the Righteous: Building Strong Communities

As the relatively young nation of the United States of America has recently celebrated her 250^th birthday, the words of today’s passage in Proverbs are important to heed. We already recognize the fragile nature of our country, and as we watch others in our world war and dissolve into chaos, we cannot ignore the role of the righteous in the stability and longevity of any people.

We know from this study in the book of wisdom that the righteous are those who choose to follow the commands of the Lord God, Jehovah, Creator of the Universe and Sovereign over all. The wicked are those who turn their back on God and choose their own way. Not only do the actions of each type of person determine their individual paths for the future but also impact all who surround them, including the greater nation.

It starts with how we treat our neighbors

With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:9-14 ESV)

It is impossible for the individual’s choice of rejecting God to have no impact on those around him. Obviously, one’s family will feel the effect, but so too his neighbor. Why do we know this is true? Because of the greatest of all commands: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:30-31). Jesus spoke these words when asked by a teacher of the Law to tell him which is the greatest commandment. In His response, Jesus quotes both Deuteronomy and Leviticus, and tells the man, according to Matthew’s gospel, that “all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matt. 22:40).

Thus, with this understanding of the ancient text, the writer of Proverbs makes it clear that a rejection of God’s Law brings destruction to one’s neighbor, because there is no love for that person. We also see that these verses reveal that the wicked will belittle his neighbor, which makes no sense. Why tear a person down who is made in the image of God? Because you don’t believe in the God who created him.

The righteous person, the one who loves God and His Word, will deliver or help his neighbor out of love for him. He will also remain silent when there is no reason to reveal a neighbor’s secrets. The righteous person is a trustworthy neighbor and a person his neighbor goes to for counsel and help in times of trouble.

Our faith affects our cities

Not only do neighbors suffer or benefit from the state of our hearts and relationship with God, but the wider community is also affected by the spiritual makeup of its population. When righteous people live in a city, the writer says “the city rejoices” and is “exalted.” Good people seek the good of the places they live. Think of God’s word through the prophet Jeremiah to those living in exile in Babylon.

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:4-7)

Both Paul and Peter spoke of how believers should live within communities. Look at what Peter wrote:

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. (1 Peter 2:12-15)

While the wicked bring only trouble on a city, the righteous always prove to be a blessing. We see this carried out in countless ways across our nation and around the world. In one Muslim country, where I lived, it was commonly known that Christians were hired to serve behind the cash registers, because they were known to be honest and wouldn’t steal. The righteous will be known by the way they live, and the city will prosper. The righteous lives of inhabitants have a direct effect on the stability of any city.

Wise counsel brings good results

The final verse of our passage is crucial for anyone in leadership, from the highest in the land to the family unit at home. “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Prov. 11:14). Those who choose the path of wisdom know the importance of seeking counsel from others. We put our decisions before God, and we listen to other godly men and women to give input, judging everything by the ruler of God’s Word.

In this, we find safety and clear guidance for making the right and wise decisions that will not only benefit the one but the many.

The wicked, those who choose self over God, suffer from pride and quickly fall and fail due to the lack of input into the choices before them. “My way or the highway” often leads to the path of destruction and despair. Think about leaders in our nation or the world who put their own desires before the good of the community or nation. How quickly things go downhill for them and those who are under their care.

Pray for an increase of righteous citizens in your city and nation. Choose the righteous path of wisdom and know blessing, not just for yourself, but for your family, community, and nation. No man is an island. Your choices will impact others. Choose wisely.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Friday Focus post, click HERE, or start this Walking in Wisdom series from the beginning.