Finding Favor

For Thursday, August 11, 2005
Proverbs 11:27

Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.

Do yourself a favor; try to be good. The world's proverb is wrong: good guys finish last. They may think they have moved into first place, but they will only prove Jesus' proverb: the first shall be the last. The "good guys" who live for God, who place others before themselves will find the favor of God who gives more generously than we can even ask. For, as if the many blessings in this life are not enough, he gives us the reward of everlasting life, indeed, everlasting glory. Paul, who had a glimpse of this glory, could write about his harsh, continuous sufferings, "For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

But the "bad boys" who look for evil will find it and its reward. They will find it turn on them so that they have lost control of themselves, becoming addicted to "bad" habits and entangled in the troubles that evil will cause for them. Worse, they will receive their eternal weight of disgrace beyond all comparison.

Apply this proverb to Christ and Satan. The Son diligently sought obedience and won the favor of the Father; as a result he now sits in glory and reigns over God's kingdom. But evil has come to Satan, who because he sought to rebel against God and to harm his Son, is doomed forever to suffer in the lake of fire. Thanks be to God, that the good of the Son has brought immeasurable good to us.