Your Community (Daily Encouragement)
When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy – 11:10
Proverbs and the rest of scripture call the church to be a blessing to the place God has placed us. Jeremiah 29 says to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” While the surrounding culture may not share the beliefs of the church, the church should live in a way that the culture is grateful for their presence. From Tim Keller on what this looks like from the teachings in Proverbs:
The call is to be a blessing the city. How? We can infer how they would be doing from the rest of Proverbs. Their relationships would be marked by justice and fair dealing. In business they would be known to be smart but not ruthless, and people of high integrity. In civic life they would be the most generous and philanthropic with their assets, the most concerned that the poor and immigrants be lifted up out of poverty. The neighborhoods in which they lived would thrive, be great places to live, and not only for those who had the same faith. In politics they would never be vicious. If their community were attacked, they would never retaliate but would respond with forgiveness. They would also be known as peacemakers, doing everything they could to broker relationships and maintain peace among various communities and groups within the city. Finally, the strength of their family lives would be evident to all.
Take time to think and pray what it looks like for you to engage your neighborhood, community, city in this way.