As I am reading this, it really feels like the author is repeating the same idea numerous times and in various ways, that we might find something that resonates with us individually.  Basically, what is being said is that we should do what is right, and we should sow honor and peace in our daily living.

Probably my favor few verses would be the last 5:

27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,

but evil comes to him who searches for it.

It makes me want to think about this - “Do I really value what’s best or what I want in the moment?” That’s a hard question.

28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,

but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

This one hardly needs commentary - but a similar diagnostic question as the last verse comes to mind...that is, “Where do I REALLY place my faith and my trust in my life?”  Another hard question.

29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,

and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

and whoever captures souls is wise.

Taking these two together, we get this idea that a wise person seeks grace and peace in his household, and that a fool is harsh with the tongue and sows discontent.  We also see that sowing grace and peace and captures souls is wise, but the way of foolishness basically yields to chance; in other words, we stack the deck in our favor by living in wisdom, in peace in our house.

31 If the righteous is repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner.

And this last verse that I picked out really drives home this idea that ultimately wisdom and righteousness is honored.  It doesn’t mean that righteousness leads to riches or easy living, but the author attaches a promise of repayment.  In reality, even when I thought that I did right and things didn’t go right, I have benefited.  My conscious is clear.  I felt right with God.  I knew I honored my calling.  Granted, I didn’t have to weather a beheading like John the Baptist or anything like that, but I could see how this promise holds true.

More great words this morning, more great wisdom.  I am going to chalk this up as a “do right” reminder this morning.  For today, I am going to actively seek out a moment to do the right thing, when no one is looking, and to use that moment as an act of worship...not seeking anyone’s approval and acknowledgement but God’s.  It can be something small, but I want to find an opportunity to do something for an audience of one today, just to thank God for His faithfulness to me, and to acknowledge that I got the message this morning about ‘right living’.