He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

                                                                                                       Proverbs 17:5 

Today: Read Proverbs 17

We all want prosperity. I have never met anyone who desired for calamity to come upon them or their family. But how do we view calamity as it applies to others? Today’s proverb gives us a remarkable piece of wisdom: “He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.”

You have probably heard someone say, “Well he made his bed, now he has to lie in it.” Statements similar to this one reveal an attitude of indifference toward others. I believe that this attitude is a derivative of how we view God. If we believe that God is not concerned with the intricate details of someone else’s life, then we will likely respond to them with apathy. But if we believe that God loves others and that He is greatly concerned about them, not desiring calamity to come upon them, then we will likely respond to them with sympathy. Jesus teaches us clearly and concisely on this subject. I believe that we would do well to adopt His instructions on how to approach our attitudes toward others. First, consider these words:

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

                                                                                                   Luke 6:35-36 

We are to love our enemies and do “good” to others. Why? It is because God is kind even to ungrateful and evil people. Biblical love requires that we (1) have a disposition of concern for others, (2) desire goodwill for them, and (3) be willing to do whatever is necessary to meet their needs. And this love is to be directed towards our enemies. If we are going to declare ourselves godly, then we must be merciful just as God is merciful. This leaves little to no room for being apathetic toward others. God testifies of Himself that He takes no pleasure in the death of anyone including that of the wicked. Consider the following:

“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?” “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”

                                                                                                Ezekiel 18:23, 32

Given the fact that God desires to see all of humanity repent and live (1 Timothy 2:4) and that He is merciful, even towards unbelievers, it only seems logical that we should desire the same. But Jesus goes even further in His instructions regarding our attitudes towards others. Consider these directives: 

Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

                                                                                                   Luke 6:37-38

There is a principle mapped out for us in this passage. The way we treat others will be what is shown toward us in return (compare with Matthew 6:14-15). If we do not judge others, we will not be judged. If we do not condemn, we will not be condemned. If we forgive and pardon others, we will also be forgiven and pardoned. As we give to others, we can expect to receive in like manner.

In spite of this, tragically, you can still find apathetic, uncaring, and judgmental attitudes coming from the people who claim to represent God. This was common among the Pharisees in Jesus’ day but has no place in the life of a born again believer in Christ. It is amazing that we always want to see God’s mercy and grace in our own lives and when we fail, we desire pardon. But when it comes to the transgressions of others, do we have the same attitude? Rejoicing in calamity? I would say, “I don’t think so!”