Proverbs 11:16-17
16 A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Who do you think of when you read the term “kindhearted woman”? Maybe you think of your mother or grandmother, a sister or friend, the greeters at church, the greeters at Wal-Mart. Many of us probably thought immediately of Mother Teresa. Some people are born kindhearted, but for others of us, it’s a learned trait as we continue in our walk with Christ. Honor, however, is not something we’re born with but something we earn. Honor could be defined as a good reputation or character as judged by other people. We gain honor from each decision we make throughout our days. True, some decisions carry more weight than others, but none-the-less, each decision ultimately amounts to the quality of our character which is measured by honor or lack thereof.
In light of all this, it’s obvious then that ruthlessness might not be such a great trait in the pursuit of honor in this life and right standing with God. Matthew 6:21 (NIV) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Ruthless men gain ONLY wealth, because their ruthlessness is blinding to the good purposes of God. Without a heart after God we lack and lose sight of the wonderfully important things in this life. Ruthlessness might lead to a mansion filled with people, but devoid of love or lead to lacking nothing materially but living like an empty tomb on the inside emotionally and spiritually. Where does your fulfillment come from?
17 Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
We’ve all heard the saying that it’s better to give than to receive. It’s no surprise that this is more than a saying but rather a timeless truth rooted in scripture, straight out of the mouth of Christ. Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’.” There’s something so satisfactory when we give of ourselves to someone in need. Money, gifts, time; It doesn’t matter because giving benefits the giver in a way that lines up with scripture making it edifying to our spirits, and maybe even as an act of worship.
The opposite can be said about us when we are cruel. Think about it. Have you ever spoken short to someone out of frustration and felt terrible about it for an extended period of time? Cruelty, in any capacity, makes us rotten from the inside out where as giving is edifying to our spirits and all those around us.
For more reasons than one, be kindhearted with a giving heart. Jesus is our great example. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Secondly, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31