but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,
but the righteous escape from trouble.
From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,
and manual labor has its reward.
Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to advice. NRSV
All through Proverbs glimpses of what it means to be righteous are given. In other words, when the Holy Spirit fills us, we should demonstrate such characteristics. Now, we know that there is a war within us and that, because of that war (between the Spirit and the flesh), we will struggle with these characteristics. They won’t come naturally because our nature is to be self-centered, lustful, and evil. But God’s nature—living in us—with produce fruit of righteousness.
“The root of righteousness bears fruit.” If our center is God, if our desire in life is to please Him, even when we drift away, we will be drawn back to Him because that’s where we find peace, that’s where we find purpose, that’s where we find comfort. And as we center ourselves upon that root of righteousness—through prayer, through Bible study, through fellowship with other like-minded believers—fruit will be evidenced in our lives.
If we don’t see fruit, if others don’t see fruit, then we need to begin to be concerned. We need to run (not walk) to the Throne and plead with the Spirit to reveal to us the sin that is prohibiting God’s working in our lives.
One of the places where we are going to see fruit is through what we say to others. The NLT says it this way:
“The wicked are trapped by their own words,
but the godly escape such trouble.
Wise words bring many benefits” (v. 13-14a).
It’s said that the eyes are the window to the soul. I disagree. I think that we can see someone’s soul (and the state of it) much more clearly with what they say . . . with what we say. “The wicked are trapped by their own words.” Not only in that situation, but trapped in revealing the state of their souls, for from the godly come words of wisdom.
“From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water?” (James 3:10-11 NRSV).
James doesn’t say “this isn’t so,” but rather “this ought not to be so.” He implies that, as believers, we have a choice whether or not to be righteous or to be evil, a choice whether to bless or to curse. And when we make that choice, we reveal whether our choice springs from the Spirit living within us or from our own corrupt, sinful natures.
Three characteristics of the righteous are given in these verses:
• They speak words of wisdom.
• They are hard workers
• They welcome and listen to advice
All three of these reveal a spirit of humility, so these characteristics say that this person doesn’t consider herself to be above others, to be privileged, to be right or complete or perfect. We need to judge ourselves (lest we be judged by others) on whether or not these characteristics describe us. When we speak are our words wise? (And when our words wouldn’t be wise do we guard our lips so that we are silent?) Are we busy with the things God put our hands to do, but not so married to our own “To Do” list that we fail to see what we need to do for others? Do we welcome advice, regardless of the source, and realize that we are a work in progress?
Short list. Easy to check ourselves out. Are we going to be righteous . . . or evil . . . today?
© 2008 Robin L. O’Hare. All Rights Reserved. International copyright reserved. This study may be copied for nonprofit and/or church purposes only without permission when copied in its entirety (including this notice).
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