13 A gossip betrays a confidence,     but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,     but victory is won through many advisers.15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,     but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,     but ruthless men gain only wealth.17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,     but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,     but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.19 Truly the righteous attain life,     but whoever pursues evil finds death.REFLECTIONSWritten by Hannah PhungIn a span of a day, we make hundreds, if not thousands of decisions. Sometimes they are tricky – some decisions may or may not honour God. Sometimes we simply forget about God and make a poor decision, or sometimes we take the easiest option because it’s what others around us are doing. It is in these moments that we forget the seriousness of disobeying God and living for the world instead. Today’s proverb reminded me of the importance of living God’s way.V16, “A kind-hearted woman gains honour, but ruthless men gain only wealth.”Money is a common theme in this passage and it’s something we need to be reminded about every day. Wealth seems appealing in the short term. Honour doesn’t seem appealing in the short term. The world lives and reacts to short term benefits, but this often comes with grave consequences in the long term.V17, “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”To be kind might seem easy, but our kindness is often tested when we have to make a sacrifice. On the other hand, to be cruel often brings a reward. The author states the long-term consequences clearly.V18, “A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.”The passage continues with this theme of challenging the short-term satisfaction of money and contrasts this with sowing righteousness. The imagery of sowing gives us a picture of farming. It takes patience, and we may not see the immediate rewards for a long time. Yet again, the long-term consequences are clear – a sure reward for those who sow righteousness. Have a think about what it looks like to sow righteousness. At times it feels like I don’t sow righteousness every day, it takes a while. V19, “Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.”I think it's important that we remember that to be righteous is only possible because of what Jesus has done on the cross. Though he lived the perfectly righteous life, He experienced death for us. Because we are made righteous by faith in Christ, we strive to live righteously, making decisions everyday which focus on the long term – ultimately, on God’s Kingdom. What a great hope to have! It’s well worth living for.ABOUT THE AUTHORHannah is part of our Bossley Park Morning Church.