Proverbs 12: King James Bible
A Good Man – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter twelve, Verse 2
2 A good man obtaineth favor of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
Daily Inspiration from These Verses – A Good Man
To nip something in the bud immediately, I’d like to point something out about the verse above. We can’t assume, that favor of the Lord, is the same as salvation through Christ.
Favor is something that we look forward to, while we’re here on earth. Sure, we’ll want it in Heaven too (should the Lord tarry), but favor is the Lord giving you a leg up in whatever the case may be, and we may or may not know that we’re favored by the Lord.
A good man is favored by the Lord, and also by anyone who recognizes him as good. But this doesn’t mean that, though someone be a good person, and does all the right things, that they’ll ever receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord, and call upon his name for salvation.
So when we read this verse, and see the word favor, that’s an earthly reward for behaving in such a manner that the Lord would consider good. This doesn’t mean in any way, that this also covers our Heavenly estates.
Because this verse exists, and is the Word of God, it’s a promise and a sure thing, whether someone is saved or not. It’s just simply how the Lord has chosen to deal with all people.
Everyone is covered in this verse. The good and the wicked. We’re either one or the other. For anyone that is wicked, their efforts will come crashing down. It may not be today or tomorrow, but as true as the verse is for the good, it is equally as true for the wicked.
God deals with the wicked in various ways, depending whether or not he has a use for them to achieve a desired end. The Kingdom of Babylon comes to mind after having typed that. He used Babylon, who worshiped pagan gods, to do his bidding, though they were clueless about doing so. That is one quick example out of hundreds in the Word that you can find.
Either way, there is a completion that exists that are both saved, and also do what’s right, and good in the eyes of the Lord. That completion is living a life that the Lord is favoring (which is huge by the way), and our eternal future is secured in the shed blood of Christ Jesus (which is far more important on a personal level).
Do what’s necessary to find out what the Father considers a good man to be. Never assume. Pray about it, search the scriptures, learn from the Holy Ghost about what he’s looking for, to qualify for the favor of the Lord!
Related New Testament Scripture
Matthew 5: King James Bible
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Matthew 5: King James Bible
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5: King James Bible
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 7: King James Bible
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Prayer
Father,
We know that there are none that are good, but you alone. However, you’ve placed this piece of scripture into your Word, for us to take to heart. Please teach us what we need to do, to be seen as good in your eyes, while we’re here upon this earth. So that you may see us favorably from here forward, and you find us doing that which pleases you. Help us to fulfill the good end of this piece of scripture on our part, so that you’ll fulfill your end of this promise. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen
Question
Do you know what the Lord takes into consideration, to define a good man?