This last part of my discussion of Chapter 3 highlights, among other things, some practical advice that Proverbs provides in terms of social relationships.
1. Do No Evil to Your Neighbor (Not Even in Your Thoughts). This is from Proverbs 3:29 (ESV) and as I think many of us can attest if we have poor relationships with our neighbors this can make day to day living miserable. Oftentimes we do not get to pick our neighbors and perhaps they play music too loud or do other things that chaff us but we should bear these annoyances if we can. As Proverbs points out, we sleep very close to each other and are in an implicit relationship of trust with our neighbors (as those who share common utilities can attest) that those things which we share will not be abused and moreover that we will look out for each other's interests. Our relationship to our neighbors is patterned to us in the expectations that the Lord has for the people of Israel to their brothers (the latter half of Deuteronomy has a lot of examples of this). We are to treat our neighbors as brothers and to love them as we love ourselves and seek their interests.
2. Stay Out of Other People's Business. If a person has not harmed us we should not contend with him (Proverbs 3:30 ESV). I would take this so far as to say even if we don't all agree politically or on other points we should bear with each other and not contend with each other. The Lord takes this advice further and commands us to suffer loss at another's expense (Matthew 5:39), that is not to contend with them even if they have done you harm (though if they are a brother then you should consider trying to settle the dispute with them in private or take it to the brothers and ultimately the church if no solution is to be found - Matthew 18:15-19).
3. Don't Copy the Methods of the Wicked. It is not just that we should not associate with the wicked, we should not use any of their underhanded tactics (Proverbs 3:31 ESV) lest we become like them and bring upon ourselves God's wrath (Proverbs 3:32 ESV). "The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous" (Proverbs 3:33 ESV). Further, "[t]oward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace" (Proverbs 3:34,35 ESV).
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*ESV=English Standard Version
1. Do No Evil to Your Neighbor (Not Even in Your Thoughts). This is from Proverbs 3:29 (ESV) and as I think many of us can attest if we have poor relationships with our neighbors this can make day to day living miserable. Oftentimes we do not get to pick our neighbors and perhaps they play music too loud or do other things that chaff us but we should bear these annoyances if we can. As Proverbs points out, we sleep very close to each other and are in an implicit relationship of trust with our neighbors (as those who share common utilities can attest) that those things which we share will not be abused and moreover that we will look out for each other's interests. Our relationship to our neighbors is patterned to us in the expectations that the Lord has for the people of Israel to their brothers (the latter half of Deuteronomy has a lot of examples of this). We are to treat our neighbors as brothers and to love them as we love ourselves and seek their interests.
2. Stay Out of Other People's Business. If a person has not harmed us we should not contend with him (Proverbs 3:30 ESV). I would take this so far as to say even if we don't all agree politically or on other points we should bear with each other and not contend with each other. The Lord takes this advice further and commands us to suffer loss at another's expense (Matthew 5:39), that is not to contend with them even if they have done you harm (though if they are a brother then you should consider trying to settle the dispute with them in private or take it to the brothers and ultimately the church if no solution is to be found - Matthew 18:15-19).
3. Don't Copy the Methods of the Wicked. It is not just that we should not associate with the wicked, we should not use any of their underhanded tactics (Proverbs 3:31 ESV) lest we become like them and bring upon ourselves God's wrath (Proverbs 3:32 ESV). "The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous" (Proverbs 3:33 ESV). Further, "[t]oward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace" (Proverbs 3:34,35 ESV).
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*ESV=English Standard Version
