The Root of the Righteous Begins with the Seed of the Gospel
Proverbs 12:1-13
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
2 A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.
3 No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man is commended according to his good sense,
but one of twisted mind is despised.
9 Better to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.
10 Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
12 Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
but the righteous escapes from trouble.
Today’s Truth
The seed of God’s Word is sown in every believer’s life. However, the seed’s first growth is the root, which serves as the believer’s foundation of faith. A sturdy root in righteousness, fed by living water, will not bend to adversity and will bear fruit in the name of Christ.
Discussion Questions
- Are you feeding your “root” with nutrients and living water (i.e., God’s Word, corporate worship, prayer, community)?
- Do you believe righteousness comes from being good or from the goodness of Jesus Christ? Explain your answer.
