Cruel to be Kind
17
Your kindness will reward you,
but your cruelty will destroy you.
18
Evil people get rich for the moment,
but the reward of the godly will last.
Many people ask about the benefits that a Christian receives. These verses compare kind people with cruel people.
Kindness brings a real reward (verse 18). People respect the kind person (verse 16). This is a real benefit for a kind person (verse 17).
A cruel man causes himself pain (verse 17). He receives money as his benefit (verse 16). However, this is not a real benefit (verse 18). He cannot take his money with him when he dies (verse 19).
Proverbs grasped the concept of "psychosomatic" millennia before psychologists acknowledged that internal strife, stress, and malevolence can manifest as physical ailments.
The most effective remedy for psychosomatic afflictions arising from inner turmoil is practicing mercy. Forgiving others enables self-forgiveness, even when it's unconscious.
Why do the gains of wicked individuals prove illusory? Their deceitful practices stem from a lack of reverence for fairness in their work ethic. Conversely, the righteous uphold integrity, offering honest labor and earning recognition and rewards accordingly.
Reflect: As Colossians 3 urges, do you approach your work as if serving the Lord?
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