Exhortation Station

Proverbs 14:22 — “Will they not go astray who devise evil? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.”

This verse contains a good nugget, and I’m finally getting around to writing a few thoughts about it.

I think it’s cool that Solomon chose the phrase “devise good” rather than merely “do good” to contrast with devising evil. The word “devise” is typically associated with careful thought and planning. It doesn’t describe an action that takes place on a whim. Devising involves intentional effort.

It’s easy enough to say nice things when people do nice things for us. It’s easy enough to offer kind words or gifts when it is socially convenient or expected. But do we devise good? Do we go out of our way, do we put our minds to work, do we block off time to brighten up someone else’s day?

Are you proactive about doing good, or do you wait for social pressures to push you toward kind behavior? Yeshua put it well when He posed the question, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 4:46,47)

Galatians 6:9 — “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

Devising good can come in many forms. Maybe it’s making a phone call or sitting down over coffee with a friend (or enemy, for that matter) who needs someone to talk to. Maybe it’s keeping an eye out for needs to fill in the community. Maybe it’s setting aside time to engage with your children on topics that are important to them. Maybe it’s surprising your mom with a clean kitchen when she gets home. I don’t know your particular situation, but I hope to get your wheels turning. Devising good requires thoughtfulness, i.e., being “full of thoughts” toward other people.

In conclusion, we recall Yeshua’s words in John 13:34,35 — “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” This love must be of a different sort than the world’s love, otherwise Yeshua could not say that having this love would distinguish us as His disciples. Yeshua’s love is a “lay down your life” sort of love (John 15:13).

Let us demonstrate uncommon love by devising good. If we do, we’ll have kindness and truth coming our way!

(Bible passages NASB 1995)

For additional thoughts along a similar vein, I invite you to check out my post, A Good Word.