stephen R Harrison

A generous person will prosper; Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. -Proverbs 11:25

Over the years, I’ve written numerous character references for individuals seeking enrollment in schools, jobs, and organizations. I once wrote a pastoral recommendation for Miss Arkansas! All these were based on how well I knew someone and included information about their character. Qualities like humility, honesty, and generosity have been at the top of my list when making the endorsements. I would rather hire someone with good character than great talent any day. Talent may help you get the job, but character will cause you to keep it. A character reference is given based on how well someone knows and is willing to uphold another’s reputation. They are vital to a business or organization’s integrity. Unfortunately, I’ve had to decline or offer unfavorable recommendations based on someone’s character a few times. Men, if someone were to reference your character, what would they say?

Proverbs 11 counsels on several qualities every godly man needs. Humility, honesty, and generosity are addressed throughout this chapter on character. Pride is the opposite of humility. A prideful man is stubborn, arrogant, selfish, and easily offended. He usually feels threatened by others and is full of fear but attempts to conceal it somehow. A prideful man can be intimidating, moody, and impatient. Sometimes, they are oblivious to pride because they have spent minimal time in the mirror of God’s Word. Solomon said, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace” (2a). People in this man’s life are disgraced when pride is involved. Who would you disgrace with pride? Your spouse, kids, parents, friends, or church? Conversely, humility invites wisdom (2b). When a man humbles himself, he is asking for insight, knowledge, and understanding he does not have. How would this affect others around you? I think about a time recently when I humbled myself and asked for help looking for something at the store. Had I not, my pride may have caused an argument with my wife, lost precious time growing together, and built unnecessary frustration and disunity. I’m learning pride just isn’t worth the relationships it hurts! A Proverbs 11 man desires humility and detests pride.

Another trait Solomon promotes is honesty. It can be steeped in pride as it erects a facade of security. I heard someone say, “One lie ruins a thousand truths.” God knows our hearts. He sees right through dishonesty. An honest man doesn’t allow duplicity to destroy him (4). Dishonesty destroys reputation. He sees it as wickedness (5). He knows Jesus is the truth and the Spirit leads to truth. He loves integrity as it guides (3) and righteousness as it delivers (4-5). He does not destroy his neighbors with his mouth (9) through gossip (13) or deception (15). A Proverbs 11 man seeks truth, stands in it, and lives by it because he knows “The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse and He delights in those whose ways are blameless” (20). He wants to be trusted and dependable. He believes honesty is the best policy and avoids anything that looks like a lie as Satan is the father of all of them (John 8:44).

As the wealthiest man to ever live, Solomon understood how a man handled his money reflected the integrity of his heart. He ultimately knew “wealth was worthless” as it was temporary, never able to deliver from death or provide eternally (4). A Proverbs 11 man uses his wealth in acts of kindness (17) and does not lie about their possessions or use them to deceive others (1). Biblical prosperity isn’t gaining more money – it’s giving more money (25). Generosity causes a man to gain more than he ever could if he hoarded possessions. Giving refreshes the soul, and it frees you from greed and selfishness. Solomon teaches us not to trust in riches but in the Lord (28). A Proverbs 11 man knows generosity leads to treasures that supersede money, which includes peace, contentment, and kindness.

Questions to Ponder

1. What would be said if someone wrote a recommendation letter describing your humility, honesty, and generosity?
2. When it comes to humility, honesty, and generosity, which is your strength? Weakness?
3. What verse stands out the most to you?
4. What other questions came to mind?

Actions to Take

1. This next week, what opportunities do you have to be humble? Generous? Honest?
2. Read Proverbs 11 and highlight the verses that stand out on humility, honesty, and generosity.

Scriptures to Read

Proverbs 3:34, 14:5, 19:17, 22:4

Prayers to Pray

Jesus, you are humble, honest, and generous. Please help me to learn from you. Keep pride far from me. Help me to detest lies. Greed and selfishness do not define me. I desire my character to display Christ’s wisdom, not man’s foolishness. Give me grace and correction where I am weak. As these areas strengthen, may it result in your glory and praise. Amen.