Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Proverbs 16:8

A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

Proverbs 16:10

A just weight and balance are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.

Proverbs 16:11

Explanation:
In studying this passage the last few days we have begun to recognize God’s sovereignty. Once we acknowledge God’s sovereignty it naturally follows that we are accountable to him. When we live as people who believe that we are accountable to God, the outcome is a life lived with integrity.
Living with integrity is a theme in this week’s passage. The passage references 5 benefits of living with integrity. We looked at the first two yesterday. Today we will look at three more benefits to living with integrity.

3. Peace of mind. v.8
   According to the Word of God it is better to do worse financially that to give away your integrity for a price. In what ways is it better?
   People who do business without integrity

• must deal with the guilt of what they have done.
• constantly look over their shoulder thinking they may get caught.
• eventually pay for what they have done.

Those who do business with integrity are the kind of people who do better in business long term. People want to deal with those who are honest and work hard.

4. Wisdom for leading. v.10
   In the context of Solomon’s day the King was to speak what was righteous, and was to seek God for direction to lead. The king that sought God spoke on God’s behalf. In our context, when a leader needs wisdom from God, God is inclined to give it to Him. In the book of James, God promises to give wisdom to those who confidently ask for it.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

James 1:5-7

A leader who has the integrity to look for wisdom from God for leading will be given the wisdom that is needed.

5. God’s favor on our work. v.11
   When a person sold goods in ancient times, much like today, they sold some goods by its weight. Dishonest merchants would manipulate their scales to their benefit either to get more goods for less money if they were buying, or to give less money for more goods as they sold. The businessman that had integrity made sure that the scales that were used were as accurate as possible. This kind of businessman was looking for fairness in their dealings. What verse 11 tells us is that God’s will is always for business to be done with integrity. If fair scales are the Lord’s, then you know that the business that uses this philosophy will be blessed.

Application:
The application is fairly straightforward:
Integrity is incredibly valuable. It is not something that we should give away. God is inclined towards those who live with and practice integrity. Conversely, to live without integrity is to sacrifice peace of mind, lead without wisdom, and to lose the blessing of God on what we do.

Response:

1. What can you do today to live with greater integrity?
2. Are you using any “unjust scales” in your life and work?
3. Are you living out of man’s wisdom or God’s?

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Proverbs 16:3

When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 16:7

Explanation:
In studying this passage the last few days we have begun to recognize God’s sovereignty. Once we acknowledge God’s sovereignty it naturally follows that we are accountable to him. When we live as people who believe that we are accountable to God, the outcome is a life lived with integrity.
Living with integrity is a theme in this week’s passage. The passage references 5 benefits of living with integrity. We’ll look at the first two benefits today.

1. Foundation for right thinking. v. 3
   The writer pleads with the reader to “commit” their “works unto the Lord.” To do this we must have a mindset that everything we do is “unto the Lord.” Every task, big or small, ought to be done knowing that God is watching and that God will be either honored or dishonored by what is done.
   At our camp the theme verse is 1 Corinthians 10:31 which says,

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

A similar mindset was expressed by Paul in Ephesians 6 as he instructed servants on how to serve their masters.

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; (6) Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; (7) With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men…

Ephesians 6:5-7

This proverb states that when we commit our works unto the Lord, our thoughts shall be established. This means that our plans, ideas and actions will work out the way they ought to when our motivation is to honor the Lord with our actions. If we have the right motivation, our planning will be “established.” Again, remember this is a probability and not a promise. It doesn’t mean that if we have the right heart that we will always be 100% effective and accurate. It does not mean we can’t make mistakes in our thinking. The probability that we will be thinking right goes way up when we are doing what we are doing as unto the Lord.

2. Peace with God and others. v.7
   Another benefit of integrity is the possibility of peace with God and those around us. Verse 7 says that when we are doing what pleases God it creates peace with even our enemies. This makes sense. When we live with integrity we are honest, kind, self-less, honoring to God and to others. Even our enemies love being treated this way. Again, do not take this as a promise but as a probability. People with integrity still can be at odds with their enemies. The probability is that people who aim at pleasing God are way more likely to be at peace with those around them.

Application:
There are two obvious application questions from the two verses today.
What does it look like to commit your way to God? What does it look like to “please God?”

• A commitment to worship. The inner motivation of our souls is to ascribe worth to our God.
• A commitment to praise. The fruit of our lips giving praise and thanksgiving to God for what He has done.
• A commitment to integrity. The commitment to do what is right no matter the cost, regardless of who is watching.
• A commitment to truth. The commitment to prioritize what God has said over what anyone else thinks.
• A commitment to relationship. The commitment to rightly prioritize God and others in my life, and to look to Him for guidance.
• A commitment to prayer. The commitment to go to God in prayer about everything.

We need a move of God in our hearts to be able to have these commitments, but when we do we will live in the benefits of a life lived with integrity.

Response:
What tangible action can you take today to commit your ways to the Lord?
What tangible action can you do today to please God?