Do Not Plot Harm
Continuing in Proverbs 3, we see this in verse 29: “Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.”
The book of Proverbs often warns against plotting or planning evil, for example Proverbs 12:20 says: “Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.” So you can plot or plan evil, or you can promote peace. The choice is yours.
Here in South Africa we have a massive problem with corruption. The stories that are coming out about corruption and crime in almost every industry are just sickening, especially for a nation that claims to be Christian.
One of the biggest ways in which we see this is in corporate sabotage. It’s not uncommon to hear about one group sabotaging another to prevent them from doing their work efficiently, allowing the ones doing the sabotaging to get more work or money.
Urgent Call for Ethical Leadership
For example, here in Gauteng we don’t have great bus services. Because when it was attempted to reinstate local bus routes, the taxi drivers caused such havoc that the whole thing came to an end. Or another example: we have a great electricity crisis on our hands, with rolling blackouts to supposedly try allow our grid to handle the countrywide load – and since the diesel industry is now coining it with everybody having to buy generators to keep their businesses powered, there are stories coming out of people in the diesel industry sabotaging Eskom to keep them from recovering and taking business away from them.
We hear of it in local government too – one party sabotaging another so that they can’t do their job, causing the public to get upset at why basic services aren’t being provided.
And so we hear this cry from Solomon, “do not plot harm against your neighbour”, and here in South Africa we see such a desperate need for men and women of God to rise into prominent positions in business and politics to bring about the Christian ethic of service and selflessness into our country.
Embrace Love, Reject Harm
But it’s a personal thing too. We can often find ourselves making little schemes and plans to undermine others, to further our own careers, to get more for ourselves. Friends, this is not the Christian way. This is not the Jesus way. We are to be those who do no harm – in fact look at these words from Romans 13:10: “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Consider your plans for your work, your family, your hobbies, your life. Are you plotting anything that will harm anybody? Or are you remembering the golden rule: “do to others what you would have done to you”?
Christ calls us to holy lives of love and service. Hear Solomon’s words today and remember your calling: do not plot harm against your neighbour. And hear Jesus’ words today: love your neighbour and do to them as you would have done to you.
