Have you ever noticed that when people are typically kind to others they themselves seem to always be at peace, happy and content? I have.
In contrast, have you ever noticed that people who seem to always be messing with others, trying to cheat them, being hurtful on purpose or otherwise cruel always seem to be suspicious, in a constant state of unrest and always paranoid or on guard? I’ve seen this too.
“The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.” (Proverb 11:17)
This is one of those “contrasting verses” we so often find in the Proverbs in which two very different lifestyles are compared.
Out of curiosity I checked out the Amplified Bible’s take on this verse and it sounds close to what I sensed the Lord wanted me to say about this verse.
“The merciful, kind, and generous man benefits himself [for his deeds return to bless him], but he who is cruel and callous [to the wants of others] brings on himself retribution.” (Proverb 11:17 – AMP)
People who are cruel to other people seem to think that everyone else is just like them: meanspirited - so they can never rest and can never be at peace…always expecting to be treated like they treat others: in hurtful ways. (“Hurtful” is the very definition of the word “evil”.)
In essence, THEY TROUBLE THEIR OWN SOULS.
In great contrast, kind and generous people (which is what “merciful” means) treat their own souls well as they treat others well. The term “does good” in Proverb 11:17 literally means “to treat well” but it also carries the sense of “ripening” with it.
A ripening soul. Sounds like a form of maturity, doesn’t it?
Let’s decide today what sort of people we will be.
Will we be cruel, like that enemy of human souls, the devil? Or will we be like Jesus, that kind, merciful and generous Being that He is?
Whichever one we yield ourselves to today will determine how we are. This is simply how the One True God made it all to work.
Let’s choose wisely.
In contrast, have you ever noticed that people who seem to always be messing with others, trying to cheat them, being hurtful on purpose or otherwise cruel always seem to be suspicious, in a constant state of unrest and always paranoid or on guard? I’ve seen this too.
“The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.” (Proverb 11:17)
This is one of those “contrasting verses” we so often find in the Proverbs in which two very different lifestyles are compared.
Out of curiosity I checked out the Amplified Bible’s take on this verse and it sounds close to what I sensed the Lord wanted me to say about this verse.
“The merciful, kind, and generous man benefits himself [for his deeds return to bless him], but he who is cruel and callous [to the wants of others] brings on himself retribution.” (Proverb 11:17 – AMP)
People who are cruel to other people seem to think that everyone else is just like them: meanspirited - so they can never rest and can never be at peace…always expecting to be treated like they treat others: in hurtful ways. (“Hurtful” is the very definition of the word “evil”.)
In essence, THEY TROUBLE THEIR OWN SOULS.
In great contrast, kind and generous people (which is what “merciful” means) treat their own souls well as they treat others well. The term “does good” in Proverb 11:17 literally means “to treat well” but it also carries the sense of “ripening” with it.
A ripening soul. Sounds like a form of maturity, doesn’t it?
Let’s decide today what sort of people we will be.
Will we be cruel, like that enemy of human souls, the devil? Or will we be like Jesus, that kind, merciful and generous Being that He is?
Whichever one we yield ourselves to today will determine how we are. This is simply how the One True God made it all to work.
Let’s choose wisely.
Have you ever noticed that when people are typically kind to others they themselves seem to always be at peace, happy and content? I have.
In contrast, have you ever noticed that people who seem to always be messing with others, trying to cheat them, being hurtful on purpose or otherwise cruel always seem to be suspicious, in a constant state of unrest and always paranoid or on guard? I’ve seen this too.
“The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.” (Proverb 11:17)
This is one of those “contrasting verses” we so often find in the Proverbs in which two very different lifestyles are compared.
Out of curiosity I checked out the Amplified Bible’s take on this verse and it sounds close to what I sensed the Lord wanted me to say about this verse.
“The merciful, kind, and generous man benefits himself [for his deeds return to bless him], but he who is cruel and callous [to the wants of others] brings on himself retribution.” (Proverb 11:17 – AMP)
People who are cruel to other people seem to think that everyone else is just like them: meanspirited - so they can never rest and can never be at peace…always expecting to be treated like they treat others: in hurtful ways. (“Hurtful” is the very definition of the word “evil”.)
In essence, THEY TROUBLE THEIR OWN SOULS.
In great contrast, kind and generous people (which is what “merciful” means) treat their own souls well as they treat others well. The term “does good” in Proverb 11:17 literally means “to treat well” but it also carries the sense of “ripening” with it.
A ripening soul. Sounds like a form of maturity, doesn’t it?
Let’s decide today what sort of people we will be.
Will we be cruel, like that enemy of human souls, the devil? Or will we be like Jesus, that kind, merciful and generous Being that He is?
Whichever one we yield ourselves to today will determine how we are. This is simply how the One True God made it all to work.
Let’s choose wisely.
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