Hello there dear friends,
Today let’s explore more wisdom from the proverbs of King Solomon on how we are not to withhold good:
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to act.
— Proverbs 3:27
There are quite a few things in this particular proverb worth exploring further. We see that it has a negative clause and a qualification. The proverb begins with the negative command, “Do not withhold good,” and then ends with a qualifying statement.
Good and Evil
The proverb begins by saying “Do not withhold good.” Immediately, a presupposition is made that there is a distinction between what is good and what is not good or evil. This distinction is important because in today’s world, good and evil are often conflated. This is also true in the culture of the day, as we see in passages like Isaiah where strong warnings are given against conflating the two:
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness,
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
— Isaiah 5:20
Because of this, King Solomon includes a clear distinction between what is good and what is evil.
One of the most prominent ideologies in our culture today is relativism, which assumes that anything can be either good or bad depending on the circumstance. While this theoretical idea might seem logical and enticing to many, it is very difficult to live consistently with the belief that everything is relative. Relativism denies objective and absolute truth, and in doing so, it denies that there is absolute good and absolute evil. Instead, the relativist stays in the middle and judges everything relatively.
In this particular proverb, the good that the author speaks about is an objective moral good. It is therefore important to identify that the one who decides what is good and what is evil is God himself.
Choice for Good
The next thing we see in this proverb is the responsibility one has to either offer or withhold what is good. King Solomon advises not to withhold what is good.
As the king imparts his wisdom to his son, he tells him not to withhold what is good. The Hebrew verb used here for “withhold” means “to hold back, refrain, deny, restrain, hinder.”
This statement is significant because many times, the choice to offer what is good goes contrary to our self-centered nature. By default, we often choose self-preservation and seek self-pleasure before offering any kind of good to others.
Furthermore, because we seek to benefit ourselves first, we often withhold good at the expense of others. Paul shares the same sentiment when he urges the Philippians to consider the interests of others and not just themselves:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves, not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
— Philippians 2:3-4
To Whom Good is Due
King Solomon points us to a specific group of people to whom good is due. He shows that there will be people in life to whom good is quite dearly due. In such situations, it is important to identify these people and offer them good, not withhold it from them.
The best examples of such people include those who are oppressed and weak. They often have to take the shorter end of the stick and life is never fair to them. They always find themselves with what is left over.
Jesus himself, when speaking to his disciples, gives an illustration of not withholding good from this particular demographic:
For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.
— Matthew 25:35-36
Instead of self-preservation, the author identifies that there is indeed objective good and a responsibility to not withhold it from those who need it.
Capacity for Good
Finally, the proverb teaches that the capacity for doing good is also an important aspect. The author writes that not withholding good is even more important when one is able to do it.
The author says, “When it is in your power to act.” As we are inclined towards doing what is right, we need to understand our capacity for doing good. As Christians, we know that this is through the enabling by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to do the good works planned for us.
Because of life’s various hardships and the indulgence of the flesh, we might think we have no capacity for doing good. In this case, these encouraging words from Paul are essential:
And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
— Galatians 6:9
Let’s remember:
- There is a distinction between what is good and what is evil, and we are not to mix them up.
- Always choose to do what is good, focusing not just on ourselves but also on others.
- We have the capacity for good only by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.
I pray this word blesses you,
Paul
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