Bridges on Proverbs 11:27
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 11:27
 
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27.  He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
 
There is no negative existence. Man is born for action, “as the sparks fly upward,” or the stone tends downward. All of us are living with a stupendous measure of vital activity for good or for mischief. Man was never intended — least of all the Christian — to be idle. Our Divine Master “went about doing good;” always in motion; active in beneficence. And he is a counterfeit, who does not live after this pattern. Usefulness is everything. We must not rest in life received. We should feel ashamed of our depravity, that we could ever spend a day without the great object — seeking good. Nor must we wait to have it brought to us. We must seek it diligently, rise up early, and spring with joy to the work. Let us awake to the conscious responsibility of having the means of blessing our fellow-sinners in our own hands. Every talent finds its suitable sphere, and may be “put out to usury” with large returns. There is the practical exercise of “pure and undefiled religion” (James 1:27. Matthew 25:35, 36); the teaching of the ignorant; the instruction of the young — the rising hope of our Church — a work of deepening interest and anxiety. Let each of us try what we can do; and, whether it be little or much, do it prayerfully, faithfully, heartily; not damped by trifling hindrances (Ecclesiastes 11:4); nor making the incapacity of doing much an excuse for doing nothing. In living for others, we live for our true happiness. In seeking diligently their good, we procure favor; often from man (Chapter 16:7); always from God. (Chapter 12:2. Nehemiah 5:19.) He honours a little strength (Revelation 3:8), the single talent (2 Corinthians 8:12), laid out for him. And ‘filling up every hour with some profitable labour, either of heart, head, or hands’ (as Brainerd justly observed) ‘is an excellent means of spiritual peace and boldness before God.’†
The ceaseless energy of Satan's servants in seeking mischief (Psalm 36:4) puts to shame our indifference! Yet their own mischief often comes to them. (Esther 7:10. Psalm 57:6.) Satan himself found the mischief that he brought upon man come unto him. (Genesis 3:1-6, 14, 15.) His servants often become the victims of their own delusions (2 Thessalonians 2:10, 11), with the fearful aggravation of having dragged multitudes with them into the pit of ruin. What then will be the fruit of my diligence? Will it be a blessing or a curse to my fellow-sinners? O my God! may it be from thee, and for thee!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
James 1:27
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
 
Matthew 25:35, 36
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
 
 
Ecclesiastes 11:4
4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
 
 
Proverbs 16:7
7 ¶ When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
 
 
Proverbs 12:2
2 ¶ A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
 
Nehemiah 5:19
19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
 
 
Revelation 3:8
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
 
 
2 Corinthians 8:12
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
 
 
Footnote:
Life of Brainerd — Edwards’ Works, 8vo. Vol. iii. 148. ‘Religious people are heavy, and moping, and cast down, principally because they are idle and selfish — Living and working for God and to save souls, is the only way to knowing more and more of his truth and his salvation.’ — Venn's Life, pp. 321, 354.
 
 
Psalm 36:4
4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. {mischief: or, vanity}
 
 
Esther 7:10
10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
 
Psalm 57:6
6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
 
 
Genesis 3:1-6, 14, 15
1 ¶ Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? {Yea...: Heb. Yea, because, etc.} 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 ¶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. {pleasant: Heb. a desire} 14 ¶ And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
 
 
2 Thessalonians 2:10, 11
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: