Justice in the Proverbs: Week 2
THE PUBLIC GOOD OF THE CHURCH
Proverbs 11:10-11 (NLT) “The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die. Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.”
When God's people live according to God's wisdom, everyone around them benefits.
“Christianity thrives, cities benefit even if many residents are not Christians. The church creates "social capital"—trust, service, generosity, stability, and compassion. Communities become healthier when people learn honesty, forgiveness, sacrifice, fidelity, and neighbor-love.” -Tim Keller
Societies become disordered when loves become disordered. When people love power, wealth, pleasure, or self above God, communities eventually suffer. -Augustine of Hippo
Christians act just like everyone else in the public square. If there’s any message we should take away from the Sermon on the Mount — or really from any scriptural instruction — it’s that we’re to be different. - But the problem is that Christians aren’t any different in the public square. We’re just as likely to be hateful toward our enemies. We’re just as likely to say things on the internet that we’d never say in person. We’re just as likely to spread unbounded, unfounded rumors about things and conspiracy theories as everyone else. At the end of the day, the ways that God wants us to act are because those are the true ways. The world may or may not react to those the way that we want them to, but that’s not our responsibility. Our responsibility is to be faithful in those places where he’s called us. -Bill Haslam
The goal of the church is not that everyone agrees with us. The goal is that our communities are healthier, more compassionate, more just, and more hopeful because followers of Jesus are present." -Bill Haslam
The heart of Proverbs 11:10–11 is this: when I live as a Christ-centered follower in all I do, the people, places, and communities around me prosper and justice is served to all.
Proverbs reflects lessons learned from centuries of Israel's experience. When leaders and influencers of a community became corrupt: society became fractured, fear among all was common, the vulnerable suffered at their hands, idolatry spread with no morals, hope and freedom were distant. When leaders and people followed God: societies flourished, justice increased for all, faith flourished, fear was not present, peace expanded, hope and freedom were present.
Mat 5:13-16 NLT: 13 "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 "You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Salt preserves. Light illuminates.
The Church is for public good (remember, ‘church’ is the people)
The church brings reconciliation, unity, generosity, forgiveness, hospitality, and grace to a community
It shows up throughout history — feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, establishing schools & hospitals, supporting those who carry the gospel and this hope around the world, providing truth without cruelty, conviction without contempt, grace without compromise, and help without return
Proverbs 11:10 — they shout for joy when the wicked die.
At first glance, verse 10 seems harsh: this is not celebrating death itself. Rather, it reflects relief from oppression. Throughout the Old Testament, wicked rulers often exploited the poor, acted in corrupt justice, promoted unwanted violence against others’ will, which created vast instability. When such people lose power, communities experience freedom.
When we as Faith followers live in community as we should, as salt and light, freedom comes to those through Christ and our ‘hands’.
A CLOSING PRAYER
Most of all, make us like Jesus.
May we love as He loved.
May we serve as He served.
May we welcome as He welcomed.
May we speak truth as He spoke truth.
May we show mercy as He showed mercy.
Lord, bless our families.
Bless our church.
Bless our schools.
Bless our neighborhoods.
Bless our businesses.
Bless our community.
May our city be stronger because we are here.
May those who are lonely find friendship.
May those who are hurting find comfort.
May those who are struggling find help.
May those who are searching find Christ.
And may our church never seek influence for its own sake, but always seek to glorify You by serving others with humility, compassion, and faithfulness.
