Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
Summary: Even when no one is watching, we are. We see what we do and we know what we do not do. Making a habit of doing the wrong thing is like running stop signs. It is a habit that can lead to sudden death.
How often do you find yourself in this position; You have the power to do good and you have the power to act, yet you do not. This is a very personal proverb. It depends on you knowing that you could help someone and consciously choosing not to do it.
If no one ever knows, why does it matter? The answer to that question is simple. Two people always know. One is you and the other is God.
The judgment of God is a complex thing far above the ability of the human mind to understand. But one thing we can know is this; we do not want to take God’s mercy for granted (Matthew 7: 21). If we play games in this life and try to take advantage of God, the outcome is terrifying.
The other person who knows what we did not do when we should have is ourselves. If we withhold good from our fellow man, we diminish ourselves. If we find ourselves prompted by God’s Spirit to do good and we refuse, we are shutting the door on God. The first time we do this might be an emotional struggle. We might agonize over whether we should go out of our way for someone we dislike or do not approve of. Maybe we think we “owe” them a comeuppance of some sort.
The second time we ignore God’s prompting, we will find it easier to shut the door. We do not have to struggle as hard to say “no” to God. Each subsequent time we say “no” to God, it gets easier and easier until one day it becomes a habit. When that happens, you have scarred your conscience so badly that you have lost your way altogether.
Do not let that happen.
It is a bit like ignoring a stop sign while driving. The first time is scary. “What if I get caught?” comes to mind. “What if someone is coming?” is another common question. When we do not get “caught” and no one is coming the other way, we find ourselves thinking, “That wasn’t so bad.”
It is not the first time that gets us in trouble. It may not be the second or third time, either. It happens when, after many times of running the stop sign, we ignore it altogether and imagine that we have the right-of-way. That is when we find ourselves in a fender-bender with the neighbor, or worse, looking at the body of someone who was just trying to cross the street.
Satan wants us to believe that it is okay to cheat. Remember that two people are always watching; you and God. Wisdom understands that there are reasons for doing good.
Application: Be pro-act-ive. Practice obeying God’s Word and the Spirit’s leading and it will become easier and easier as you find yourself making it a habit.
Food for Thought: How is withholding something owed to another like stealing from them?
How is withholding something owed to another like stealing from them?
Well if its something that they are counting on or relying on it can do many things financially that can snowball out of control and I could go on and on down that road.
Well holding in a compliment is something I’ve been trying not to hold in even if it’s someone I don’t know. How does holding a compliment benefit anyone? Each of us should please our neighbors for their good to build them up.
Romans 15:2.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Tim,
Nicely said! I agree about the financial impacts you mention. I really like the comparison to withholding compliments and our obligation to build each other up. Thank you!
Good comments T.
The book of James addresses this very concern. James 2: 1 – 13; James 4: 17; James 5: 1 – 6. In these passages we have people stealing dignity, honor, withholding pay of poor laborers, etc. the bottom line passage for us in this is James 4: 17. If we know the right thing to do and we withhold it, then it is sin. It is rebellion against God.
Rich,
Thank you for pointing us to James! He does address this rather well. I agree with you about James 4:17–
“ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
Also, as an aside, this verse also touches on the personal nature of sun and judgment. As I wrote above, “Two people always know. One is you and the other is God.”
The danger here is when we judge ourselves by the behavior of others. (Well, I am not as bad as so-and-so…) God does not judge us by what others do. He judges us by what we know to be right and what we actually do. We cannot fool God.
How is withholding something owed to another like stealing from them?
If something is owed then it isn’t mine. I don’t really have the authority to withhold it. Like Jeff said, God knows I held back what wasn’t mine to keep.
The verses in Proverbs 3 after today’s describe a couple different scenarios. The first is about a lie, waiting to repay when you know you could. I don’t really understand why one would do that… To stay in debt? I don’t think you really get anything from withholding that besides just being stubborn.
The next scenario is about your thoughts, don’t think about how to hurt your neighbor. Don’t take time to figure out the best way to go about harming them. Talk about a bad habit!
The third is about your actions, don’t contend with someone who hasn’t done you any harm. Arguing or fighting, just for the sake of it is not beneficial. Especially for the relationship with the other person. But again, if this becomes a habit then no one will want to have anything to do with you.
The fourth is about desires, do not envy a man of violence. It’s bad if you do harmful things, it’s a whole new level to be jealous for them.
And then there’s a reasoning, these things are an abomination to God. But He is close with the upright.
A-
Have you ever seen two little kids playing. A toy can be sitting on the floor ignored until one little kid picks it up. Then all of a sudden the other kid wants it. Drama ensues…
Why does one want what the other has?
Little kids grow up to be big kids. I used to think we grow up to be adults, but that does not happen as often as I would like. Big little kids do things like keeping what belongs to somebody else just because they can. Sad…
Yes, as a matter of fact I have seen that very scenario.
I both understand and don’t understand the pressure of want in the now that makes us forget about the need that comes later. To be honest, sometimes I’m the big little kid who stirs up drama in a moment and later looks back absolutely baffled when I can’t figure out my reasoning that had seemed so clear before.
Lord help us all. I suppose that’s what going through Proverbs is all about. Learning and training ourselves to see it God’s way in the moment instead of our way.
A —
You are not alone!
That is exactly what Proverbs, and the Scripture as a whole, is about.
Matthew 7:3 points out attention to “the plank in [our] own eye.” We cannot discover this plank on our own. We need to engage with God’s Word, his Spirit, and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Most of all, we need to emulate the humility of Christ.
We all grow and mature as people at the feet of our Lord.
02-13-2022, Proverbs 3:27, How is withholding something owed to another like stealing from them?
If we owe something to someone, it is theirs and we should give it to them. If I knowingly keep something owed to someone else, I am in fact stealing from them.
Mr T hits on a much finer point, the point God is concerned about. How often do we withhold encouragement for another who should receive it? The world is an all for me environment where those of the flesh are trying to out do the other. ” He who dies with the most toy’s wins. ” Many live seeking encouragement and praise from others and will withhold the same in an effort to maintain what they see as their status in the world.
Believers are all members of God’s family and are to freely give and encourage others as they excel, not try to steal their glory. Be humble and elevate others.
Ron,
Great point! You bring to mind Mark 9:35 —
“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.‘”
Ron your comments along with this blog always get my wheels turning and help me meditate on things above more and more. Sadly the slogan ” He who dies with the most toys wins! ” has been big in my family. I have made a few responding comments back, when I was a new believer and just starting to follow Jesus. Letting them know that they don’t ” win” when they die, it’s not over, the rest of us are going to enjoy those toys. Who knows where you’ll be at, but your toys won’t be going with you, so thanks. They stopped saying it as much. I hope it planted a seed.
Tim,
I love your response to the “most toys” argument. Excellent psychology!