My dear readers,

Are You to be Commended or Despised?

Proverbs 12:8: "A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised."

We all desire commendation from the ones we love or respect. Children delight in parents' commendations. Employees delight in their manager's commendations. How many of us delight in God's commendation?

God's commendation is the highest and most important commendation of all. God's commendation will be given at the end of our lives. God's commendation allows us to enter heaven. Therefore, every believer's goal is to seek God's commendation above that of any man.

The literal translation of Proverbs 12:8 is: "According to his wisdom, a man shall be commended: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised." This verse emphasises that the basis of God’s measure of commendation is wisdom! Wisdom is the application of God’s Word in our lives. To be commended by God means to be praised by Him. The following are some of the wisdom to be found in every believer's life as gleaned from the Book of Proverbs:

• The beginning of wisdom – Proverbs 9:10: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Every soul’s salvation begins with the fear of God. The proclamation of the Ten Commandments precedes the fear of God. Understanding that his sins against the holy God are great and there is nothing he can do to ward off the wrath of God, the sinner turns to God in true repentance and begs for mercy. He receives Jesus Christ (who died on the cross for his sins) as his personal Lord and Saviour.

• The evidence of wisdom -- Proverbs 10:31: “The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.” In Christ, he has been made righteous before God. The words he speaks are according to the Holy Scriptures. The new man in Christ has replaced the old man. The mind of Christ has replaced the mind of sin. The thoughts are Christ-like, and the words are the same according to the Scriptures. He talks about Christ. He shares the gospel with others.

• The humble has wisdom -- Proverbs 13:10: “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” Humility is evidenced by teachability. The believer's humility is patterned after Christ’s humility since he has been given the mind of Christ. He esteems others better than himself. He thinks of others. He will not do anything that will stumble others in all things personal and preferential. His consideration is the spiritual well-being of others, including sinners who need to see Christ in him and to know Christ as their Lord and Saviour. He cares for the spiritual well-being of fellow believers, as their faith and trust in Christ must be enhanced and protected at all costs.

• He understands his life -- Proverbs 14:8: “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.” The believer knows where his holy life is heading. He will not be distracted by the seduction and temptations of this world. He stays away from sinful places and does not allow himself to be impacted negatively by sinful people even as he tries to reach them for Christ. In all things lawful, he ensures that he does not come under the power of any. He desires to arrive faithful and not be found wanting in glory.

• He lives uprightly -- Proverbs 15:21: “Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.” He walks rightly before God and man by ensuring that the Word of God remains the lamp unto his feet and the light unto his path. There is no other way for him to walk than by the way of uprightness. The old way of situational ethics, where the circumstances of life determined his behavior, is a thing of the past. His life is now one of righteousness, honesty, integrity and diligence, for he knows he is living for Christ and represents Christ!

• He understands real wealth -- Proverbs 16:16: “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” His motive for serving and witnessing is the love of God in Christ. He now hates mammon and loves God only. The least important thing in his life now is mammon, which used to be the most important. He trusts God to take care of his physical body as he takes care of his spiritual. He now seeks God’s kingdom and righteousness first in everything he says and does. All things spiritual are eternal. He seeks after spiritual things and not temporal ones.

Commendations on earth will come primarily from fellow believers who are encouraged by and can appreciate his holy life. Some unbelievers may also appreciate him, not for his holiness but for his diligence, integrity and honesty. Joseph is a good example of this truth. Potiphar trusted Joseph to care for all his wealth. Genesis 39:4-6: “And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.” Other unbelievers, including angels of light masquerading as believers, will persecute holy believers and not commend them.

But the one who has a perverse (i.e. crooked) heart shall be despised. His fellow sinners will commend him, but godly believers will despise him as he is likely a professing believer in this context of the Book of Proverbs written for the people of God. He brings shame to the Name of Christ by his sin. His sinful ways reveal his crooked heart. He is not a child of God, though he thinks and claims to be one. His hypocrisy makes his sins even more heinous in God's sight. Not only will God's holy people despise him, so will God. God’s people will try to show him the errors of his ways by rebuking him. If he repents, his soul is saved. But if he retaliates, he condemns his own soul.

Let us be commended by God, and not be despised by Him.