PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LOVE

Passage: Proverbs 21:20-31

Key verse: 21

NIV

20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity[a](A) and honor.(B)

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(C)
    and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouths(D) and their tongues
    keep themselves from calamity.(E)

24 The proud and arrogant person(F)—“Mocker” is his name—
    behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(G)
    because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous(H) give without sparing.(I)

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable(J)—
    how much more so when brought with evil intent!(K)

28 A false witness(L) will perish,(M)
    but a careful listener will testify successfully.

29 The wicked put up a bold front,
    but the upright give thought to their ways.(N)

30 There is no wisdom,(O) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.(P)

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.(Q)

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

20 (A)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
    but a foolish man (B)devours it.
21 Whoever (C)pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find (D)life, righteousness, and honor.
22 (E)A wise man scales the city of the mighty
    and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 (F)Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
    (G)keeps himself out of (H)trouble.
24 (I)“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
    who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of (J)the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he craves and craves,
    but the righteous (K)gives and does not hold back.
27 (L)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
    how much more (M)when he brings it with evil intent.
28 (N)A false witness will perish,
    but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
    but the upright (O)gives thought to[a] his ways.
30 (P)No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
    can avail against the Lord.
31 (Q)The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but (R)the victory belongs to the Lord.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 21:29 Or establishes
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

What are your pursuits in life? People pursue education, honor, money, wealth, family, popularity, and fame. These things have some merit. But they cannot be the true purpose of our lives. Those who pursue righteousness and love can find true life, prosperity, and honor (21).

The best pursuit is to seek God’s wisdom for our lives. Wisdom enables one to pull down the strongholds of wickedness (22). Wisdom helps us to choose our words carefully (23). There is no human wisdom or way that can succeed against God (20). The wise trust in God and experience victory in the Lord (21).

On the other hand, those who reject wisdom follow wickedness. And, whatever they do, the wicked are foiled. Also, the wicked are full of folly and fury (24). The wicked are lazy and bear its bad fruits (25-26). The wicked are detestable in all their ways and their sacrifices are detestable. They are deceitful and full of pretense. But the wise listen carefully, give thought to their ways, and the Lord helps them (31). Let’s repent our wicked ways and seek God’s wisdom and experience his victory.

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me victory when I seek your wisdom. Protect me from following wicked and foolish ways.

One Word: Seek God’s wisdom and experience his victory