Impacting Your Community
(Prov 11:10 MSG) When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers; when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.
In this verse Solomon contrasts how the community responds to either the progress or plight of its citizens. His focus is on highlighting how different our community will respond when something good happens to good people and when something bad happens to bad people.
I am using the Message Bible translation (that is easy to read); that is why we see the words “good people” and “bad people.” Other translations make it clear that this is a reference to the righteous and the unrighteous, the just and the wicked.
Before I go any further I believe I need to highlight the fact that Solomon is teaching about the reaction of the community (or the world). This is NOT a reference to how believers should react to the good or bad that happens to others. He is not teaching us to celebrate when something bad happens to a wicked person. As believers, we should have compassion on others and our compassion will keep us from celebrating anyone’s loss.
In Paul’s letter to the church at Rome he said, “Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15). When someone comes to us who is weeping – whether they are righteous or not – we should have compassion on them. Now, if they are a believer and they are hurting, then the Bible actually tells us to help them bear the burden.
In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth he described us (believers) as members of the Body of Christ. He said, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy. You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it” (1st Cor 12:26,27). We should join each other in both pleasure and pain. And finally, James said, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (1:27).
James expected us – as true believers – to show mercy to believers and non-believers; to the sinner and the saint; to righteous and the wicked. The bottom-line is that the Father expects us to operate in love towards everyone, everyday, in every way!
Now that we understand God’s expectation of us, as believers, let’s get back to the text. Solomon is not talking about the reaction of believers; he is talking about the reaction of the community. When he refers to the community (the whole town) he obviously includes those that walk WITHOUT God.
It is unreasonable to expect an unbeliever to live up to the same standards outlined in the Word for believers. Simply put, I don’t expect the world to act like the church. I expect the church to act like the church and the world to act like the world. How does the world act? The answer can be wrapped up one word: SELFISHLY! The world is a selfish place. People want to know, “What’s in it for me?” That being the case, then the only reason the community cheers when things are going well for the righteous, is because the righteous are making a positive impact on the community. The only reason they cheer when something bad happens to the wicked, is because they wicked were not adding value to their environment.
So what does this mean to you? It means that part of your responsibility, as a believer, is to serve your community. You should make a positive impact on your sphere of influence daily! I am sure that other believers will have good things to say about you, but what about unbelievers? Would they say that you are making a positive difference or would they call you a hypocrite and celebrate when you go wrong? It’s easy to get along with other believers, but are you getting along with the lost? Are you shining as light in the midst of them? Are you making the impact the Father wants you to make? Are you growing where you have been planted?
Father, I thank You for planting me in my community and for giving me a sphere of influence. I declare, by faith, that I will make a positive impact daily! Sure, I will get along with other believers, but I will also get along with unbelievers. I will treat all people the way that You desire for them to be treated. I operate in Your love towards everyone, everyday, in every way. Even the ungodly will acknowledge Your hand upon my life! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Prov 11:10 MSG) When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers; when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.
In this verse Solomon contrasts how the community responds to either the progress or plight of its citizens. His focus is on highlighting how different our community will respond when something good happens to good people and when something bad happens to bad people.
I am using the Message Bible translation (that is easy to read); that is why we see the words “good people” and “bad people.” Other translations make it clear that this is a reference to the righteous and the unrighteous, the just and the wicked.
Before I go any further I believe I need to highlight the fact that Solomon is teaching about the reaction of the community (or the world). This is NOT a reference to how believers should react to the good or bad that happens to others. He is not teaching us to celebrate when something bad happens to a wicked person. As believers, we should have compassion on others and our compassion will keep us from celebrating anyone’s loss.
In Paul’s letter to the church at Rome he said, “Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15). When someone comes to us who is weeping – whether they are righteous or not – we should have compassion on them. Now, if they are a believer and they are hurting, then the Bible actually tells us to help them bear the burden.
In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth he described us (believers) as members of the Body of Christ. He said, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy. You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it” (1st Cor 12:26,27). We should join each other in both pleasure and pain. And finally, James said, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (1:27).
James expected us – as true believers – to show mercy to believers and non-believers; to the sinner and the saint; to righteous and the wicked. The bottom-line is that the Father expects us to operate in love towards everyone, everyday, in every way!
Now that we understand God’s expectation of us, as believers, let’s get back to the text. Solomon is not talking about the reaction of believers; he is talking about the reaction of the community. When he refers to the community (the whole town) he obviously includes those that walk WITHOUT God.
It is unreasonable to expect an unbeliever to live up to the same standards outlined in the Word for believers. Simply put, I don’t expect the world to act like the church. I expect the church to act like the church and the world to act like the world. How does the world act? The answer can be wrapped up one word: SELFISHLY! The world is a selfish place. People want to know, “What’s in it for me?” That being the case, then the only reason the community cheers when things are going well for the righteous, is because the righteous are making a positive impact on the community. The only reason they cheer when something bad happens to the wicked, is because they wicked were not adding value to their environment.
So what does this mean to you? It means that part of your responsibility, as a believer, is to serve your community. You should make a positive impact on your sphere of influence daily! I am sure that other believers will have good things to say about you, but what about unbelievers? Would they say that you are making a positive difference or would they call you a hypocrite and celebrate when you go wrong? It’s easy to get along with other believers, but are you getting along with the lost? Are you shining as light in the midst of them? Are you making the impact the Father wants you to make? Are you growing where you have been planted?
Father, I thank You for planting me in my community and for giving me a sphere of influence. I declare, by faith, that I will make a positive impact daily! Sure, I will get along with other believers, but I will also get along with unbelievers. I will treat all people the way that You desire for them to be treated. I operate in Your love towards everyone, everyday, in every way. Even the ungodly will acknowledge Your hand upon my life! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Fabulous word, Paulette...if we're not part of the solution...then we're part of the problem.
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