Tuesday - Proverbs 11 - The Righteous

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ALL it "practical righteousness" if you like.  It is important to recognize that a series of right decisions will bring positive consequences in this life.  This chapter deals with the temporal results of our lifestyle choices (Proverbs 11:31).  Whether a person is destined for heaven or for hell, there are certain moral and ethical decisions which one can make to either help or hurt one's own current plight in life.  Here is a paraphrase of most of the principles touched on in this chapter.  Dishonesty is destructive.  Pride will bring any man down. Perversion will weaken every infractor.  Good habits help you make better decisions.  A genuinely commendable reputation can be a tremendous defense when trouble comes.  An evil man is a detriment to everyone around him.  Whether it is right or not, people are glad when wicked men die.  Wise men know when to keep quiet.  Advice is valuable.  Signing your name to guarantee something that depends on someone else's reliability is simply not a smart thing to do.  Cruelty is self-destructive.  In truth, nobody ever actually gets away with their misdeeds.  Beauty is wasted on a woman that is foolish.  Generosity tends to lead to plenty; greed to lack.  It is better to be good than to be wealthy.  A wise man makes sure that his actions do not hurt his own family.  And, finally, wealth is irrelevant when you are drawing your last breath.