The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
Summary: Solomon’s ongoing contrast between the righteous and the wicked takes an interesting turn. Here he compares caring for animals with acts of kindness.
Animals are rather amazing. They embody many of the values that God struggles to teach us. They can be faithful, patient, forgiving, protective, and loving. No wonder people love their pets!
This passage draws an uncomfortable parallel between how good and bad people care for their animals. The upside is that it also points us to another way of looking at what it means to be righteous.
Suppose, for example, that there is a farmer down the road who doesn’t like people. He is always gruff and unpleasant to be around. Is he wicked? Well, it is hard to know. Without getting to know someone, we have nothing to base a judgment on. As far as I know, it is not a sin to not like people. Maybe if we sit across the road under a shade tree, we can learn something about the farmer.
Every day he is faithful to get up before dawn and take care of milking his cows. His animals have a nice barn to protect them from the weather and they seem to have plenty of feed. The vet comes out now and then to care for the sick. It looks like the farmer takes care of the needs of his animals. Even his dog never leaves his side.
Is there a lesson here for all of us?
Kindness isn’t measured by how someone treats me. (I know, that is shocking! You probably have spent your whole life believing that there is one person somewhere who is the one who decides what is kindness and what isn’t. You might have even suspected that I was that person. If only that were true…) Kindness is measured by how someone relates to God.
In the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37), two people from two different cultures who normally don’t get along cross paths. One is a naked and bleeding Jew on the side of the road. The other, a Samaritan, is on a business trip and has places to go. On seeing the beaten man beside the road, the Samaritan puts all of his plans on hold and stops to help. He doesn’t quiz the beaten man about his politics or social values. He simply helps. That is kindness.
The wicked are quite different. Whatever kindness they do is given begrudgingly. There are no kind words to go with the kindness done. There is no honor for God in what they do. What they give might come with the expectation of some kind of return. All of these things sour the kindness and make it feel cruel.
Application: Remember that God sees all things all the time.
Food for Thought: How does the care of animals relate to scripture?
If the Lord cares for the birds of the air, then it demonstrates how much more value we have. Matthew 6: 26; 19: 29 – 31. How we as believers treat animals reveals something about us that – if good – shows how we as His children are like our Father. Of course, it also reveals the value of God’s creation and us taking our God given responsibility seriously. Genesis 1: 26 – 31. It also tells us that like God, while we value animal life and all of creation, there is nothing of greater value than humans created in His image. We should treat animals well and people even better.
Nice synopsis, Rich!
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07-09-2022, Proverbs 12:10, How does the care of animals relate to scripture?
God’s word is definitely with Rich.
God cares for all His creation. It is in His character to watch over them.
Matthew 6:26, 1 Timothy 5:18, Psalm 147:9, Isaiah 40:11
The righteous display the character of God as they care for the needs of their animals, while in contrast, the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
Nice verses, Ron!
I’ve added a link here.
Thanks.